Video by Nathan Puffalt
“Canada's First Fashion Association Launches in Saskatchewan”
Saskatoon, SK 2019 - The Saskatchewan Fashion Association Inc. (SFA), the first registered fashion association within Saskatchewan and Canada. As a not-for-profit, membership based organization located in Saskatoon and serving all of Saskatchewan, SFA is committed to developing and promoting the Saskatchewan fashion sector regionally, nationally, and internationally. Creative entrepreneurs within the sector, such as designers, boutique owners, models, photographers, hair stylists, makeup artists, and beyond will benefit through resources, programming, and showcase opportunities as we assist in the development and promotion of their creative work here in Saskatchewan and on a global scale.
The mission of the Saskatchewan Fashion Association is to expand the awareness and business industry sector of Saskatchewan based fashion talent by providing education, training and showcase opportunities to the sector, thereby facilitating business growth on a regional, national, and international level.
This mission was seeded from the former Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival (SFDF). A decade ago, Mandy Pravda of Mane Productions and Jacqueline Conway of TrendBlazer Studio, founded Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival, an annual 4-day event in Saskatoon, SK. The festival was committed to building awareness, sales and networking opportunities, events, showcases and runway events for fashion designers, boutique owners, models, stylists, and all other sector contributors. Over the years it became apparent through the voice of the community the fashion sector needed more opportunities for furthering education, funding resources, networking opportunities, marketing support, mentorship, financial planning, and business development.
The newly formed Saskatchewan Fashion Association (SFA) is undertaking a yearlong analysis of the province’s fashion sector, with support from Creative Saskatchewan. The SFA investigates the potential of the fashion sector to become eligible for Creative Saskatchewan’s grant, equity and industry association funding programs. SFA also implements programming and initiatives that the sector is demonstrating a need for.
Creative Saskatchewan currently invests in commercially-viable projects undertaken by businesses and individuals in six creative sectors as identified within The Creative Saskatchewan Act and The Creative Saskatchewan Regulations: screen-based media, book publishing, music, craft, visual art, and live performing arts. Investments in creative entrepreneurs help support production, marketing, business expansion, and export activities.
“Much like the creative entrepreneurs we invest in, entrepreneurs in the Saskatchewan’s fashion industry face the unique challenge of balancing business acumen with artistic skill, creativity and inspiration, in addition to untapped manufacturing and export opportunities” said Greg Magirescu, CEO of Creative Saskatchewan. “We’re pleased to be the first province or territory in Canada to actively explore an investment partnership in the fashion sector by partnering with the Saskatchewan Fashion Association. This partnership will amplify our ability to assess the viability and measure the fit of the commercial fashion sector for our agency’s mandate to grow the creative economy in Saskatchewan.”
As a member based provincial organization in scope, the vision of the Saskatchewan Fashion Association is to increase the viability and recognition of the fashion sector as a vital element of our economy, thus solidifying the association’s place within the cultural identity of Saskatchewan and Canada.
“As the first fashion association in Saskatchewan and Canada, we see a bright and prosperous future ahead for the sector. With the past work of Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival and Saskatchewan Fashion Week we have a strong foundation for the industry to create and cultivate a dynamic and viable creative industry for our province. This is a big shift for the fashion industry within Canada and we have big plans for what the future will bring for the country and the partnerships that will come, eventually on a global scale. If all goes as planned and as projected by both SFA and Creative Saskatchewan, we are creating further knowledge and data for reason to further funding avenues and access to a resource network for Saskatchewan entrepreneurs within the fashion sector. Funding and career education advancement is the biggest hurdle for most entrepreneurs. Members of SFA having access to government funding and resources will have a major impact on the economy and not only in the fashion sector,” says Mandy Pravda, President of Saskatchewan Fashion Association.
The SFA’s strategic plan will assist in the business and funding development and promotion of Saskatchewan fashion designers and all industry members on a provincial, national and international level. The organizations primary objectives include:
Providing resources, opportunities and a platform to showcase the fashion sector to expand member brand awareness and businesses internationally, while amplifying the local economy;
Creating ongoing awareness and programming for the sector that drives professional and personal growth and the development of an annual awards ceremony for the sector;
Creating a digital resource hub for the entire sector at saskfashion.com; Developing partnerships with funding agencies, entrepreneurial organizations, and other associations within and outside of Saskatchewan;
Conducting further research aimed to introduce the sector’s ability to apply for funding through grants and other recourses, which at this time are not available to them under the six creative sectors identified within The Creative Saskatchewan Act and The Creative Saskatchewan Regulations.
“Having an association which can assist in creating opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn and expand their business without taking on mass debt and investing several years before seeing any return, and furthermore not having to leave Saskatchewan will increase the number of industry professionals, thus increase buying power and demand for resources. As we have seen, with demand comes business,” says Jacqueline Conway, Vice President of Saskatchewan Fashion Association.
Members are expected to see benefits such as: a member directory for public access, private industry resource directory, one-to-one career consultations, educational workshops, marketing support, export and import assistance, global networking opportunities, and membership partner offers. With a 5-year strategic plan in place, SFA has big plans for the future and the local fashion sector. This is only the beginning!
For further information and to book interviews please contact
Mandy Pravda, President
Saskatchewan Fashion Association
EPK
SFA Cofounders PHOTO
SFA Official Launch VIDEO https://vimeo.com/361350000
SFA LOGO HIGH RES https://www.dropbox.com/s/ypfoba70pns29up/SFA_Logo.eps?dl=0
Video by Sica Films
Times have evolved and the Saskatchewan Fashion industry’s needs are changing. Evolution and change are the keys to sustaining the growth the Saskatchewan Fashion Industry.
Saskatchewan Fashion and Design Festival (2010-2019) has been a staple 4 day event in the Saskatchewan Fashion industry since 2010, with major limitation such as funding and economy changes over the years, limiting time and resources to the festival, and few but limited off season opportunities to showcase the fashion sector, the limitation in all areas of the organization caused many barriers.
Even with limitations, over the decade, we saw a substantial growth in the community and economy! Greater collaboration of editorial photo shoots, events and networking events, led to an extensive opportunity to grow the industry and took it to a global level as a community. In order to advance resources throughout the Saskatchewan fashion sector a new business model has been developed that is able to assist and advance the sector.
The community has grown together, and with these already made connections and tools such as photos for portfolios, high profile runway experience and marketplace experience it has opened opportunities. SFA is dedicated to expanding these opportunities and more.
Don’t worry, the impactful events that had taken place such as the SFDF Runway, Marketplace and Conference will be back but under Saskatchewan Fashion Association Inc. and a different model!
The conference, for 2019-2020, will be broken out into workshops and meetings throughout the year. SFDF’s concepts of education and showcase along with sale opportunities, will benefit SFA in the future plans. SFDF Co-founders Mandy Pravda (Mane Productions) and Jacqueline Conway (Trendblazer Marketing) are the also the founding members of Saskatchewan Fashion Association, along with board members Melissa Squire (Alchemy Collective) and Celene Dupuis (Revamp Salon) and their irreplaceable experience within the fashion community will drive SFA as an organization.
"How to Spark a Culture: The history and future of the first Fashion Association within Canada"
Saskatchewan Fashion Association Inc., the first fashion association within Canada and formally known as Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival, is committed to presenting the style, innovation, diversity and design culture of Saskatchewan to develop, promote and elevate our Saskatchewan fashion designers and all Industry contributors. With a historical 9 years of creating networking and educational opportunities and providing resources and platforms to showcase the arts, SFA is leading the development and promotion of the Saskatchewan Fashion Industry on a provincial, national and international level to increase recognition of the Industry as a vital element of the economy and cultural identity of the Province of Saskatchewan. Join us to find out how we came to be, the challenges and successes we have faced, and the future of the fashion industry in Canada.
Mandy Pravda, President SFA and Jacquline Conway, Vice President SFA will speak on the history and becomings of the Saskatchewan Fashion Sector and what the future vision holds.
"How to Spark a Culture" Mandy Pravda, Co Founder of Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival shares insight during MOSO Conference in Saskatoon, Sk. on the makings of building a community, how to identify needs and build a viable organization to increase the local economy.
Raising over $40,000 for Dress fo Success thanks to Cameco and a collaboration of amazing businesses and entrepreneurs.
Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival showcased local provincial designers along with boutiques. Producing the show, and designing the event, this was a showstopper moment in time for all involved.
Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival Presented "A La Mode" French Pravilion Fashion Show during Folk Festival. Mane Productions specials in fashion show productions.
Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival at Dutch Growers Fashion Show. A Charity Fundraiser: Choc 'LaCure. Mane Productions revamped this event to expand guest experience and grow diversity within the collections shown to support local and focus on entrepreneurs.
A Risqué Journey of the Twentieth Century fundraiser for The Pink Wig Foundation. Mane Productions, SFDF, Mercedes Benz and Pink Wig partnered to create this high end event. Producing fashion shows is a speciality of Mane Productions.
www.timelessRSVP.co