When thinking of fashionable cities in the U.S., Columbus, Ohio, probably doesn't come to mind — but it should.

 

According to Emsi — a company that uses labor market data to help educational institutions, workforce planners and regional developers build a better workforce and improve the economic conditions in their regions — Columbus is home to the third highest concentration of fashion designers in the country (New York City and Los Angeles are number one and two respectively). In addition to these designers, Columbus is also home to major brands and retailers like Victoria's Secret and Henri Bendel (both have headquarters in the city), as well as soon-to-be designers studying at the Columbus College of Art & Design.

 

Read more, here:

http://www.fashiontimes.com/articles/24589/20160105/fashion-capitals-of-the-u-s-columbus-ohio-emerges-as-major-fashion-hub-insider-interview.htm

 

What do you guys think?

 

Apparel, absolutely. Fashion ... debatable.

^ Just my opinion, that street cred is sort of buried because there's no visible fashion (apparel!) district downtown. There really should be.

What, really, separates fashion from apparel? And this is coming from somebody who worked (albeit briefly) at one of the HQ's for one of the big brands in Columbus.

 

The people there all called themselves fashion designers. It's not high fashion like Milan and Paris, bit it's fashion.

 

We've got the Limited, Victoria's Secret, Bed Bath and Beyond, Tween Brands, Express, A&F, and more. Not to mention other retailers like D&W and Big Lots. Maybe we're more of a retail capital than fashion.

 

It does tick me off that they're all located Northeast of town rather than in the city.

The Columbus-based stores do a lot of volume as compared to some of the high-end brands for sure.

What, really, separates fashion from apparel?

 

My guess, (with no intention of opening a huge can of worms here) is something along the lines of inspiration, innovation and influence.

apparel is a fashion. anyway, this is probably the most under-represented business in the state. there is a long running solid base in columbus and plenty of room for growth. it could use a lot more pr.

Apparel, absolutely. Fashion ... debatable.

 

I think May Day's meaning is pretty clear. The Columbus based companies may produce a lot of clothing, but that doesn't necessarily make it fashionable clothing.  Or, Columbus may pump out a lot of apparel, but that doesn't make it a fashionable city based on the clothing choices of its inhabitants?

If you are basing being considered a fashion capital off of rankings and numbers then Cleveland should be up there with if not ahead of Columbus. Cleveland's Fashion Week is the third largest in the country outside of New York City and Los Angeles. In the end it's all subjective and opinion based.

If you are basing being considered a fashion capital off of rankings and numbers then Cleveland should be up there with if not ahead of Columbus. Cleveland's Fashion Week is the third largest in the country outside of New York City and Los Angeles.

 

?

 

Having a fashion week does not make a city fashionable.  Cleveland would be an example of this (as would Columbus when talking clothing retailer headquarters).  That would be the same line of thinking that Houston is more cultured in live performances since it has (allegedly) the second largest concentrated theater district in the United States.

 

Apparel, absolutely. Fashion ... debatable.

 

I think May Day's meaning is pretty clear. The Columbus based companies may produce a lot of clothing, but that doesn't necessarily make it fashionable clothing.  Or, Columbus may pump out a lot of apparel, but that doesn't make it a fashionable city based on the clothing choices of its inhabitants?

 

fashion: a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people

: the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles

 

Whether you like Victoria Secret or A&F or even Big Lots, they pump out "fashionable" clothing, by definition.  Is it Alexander Wang or fashion-conscience designers like the houses of Paris, Milan, Tokyo, or New York?  No.  But it is a type of fashion. MayDay's point is valid (we all know what he means, really), but I suppose it's about interpretation of what exactly is fashion as a term which the article keeps vague.

^ Just my opinion, that street cred is sort of buried because there's no visible fashion (apparel!) district downtown. There really should be.

 

And THIS is what Columbus really should be going towards with the downtown revival.  Completely agree.

If you are basing being considered a fashion capital off of rankings and numbers then Cleveland should be up there with if not ahead of Columbus. Cleveland's Fashion Week is the third largest in the country outside of New York City and Los Angeles.

 

?

 

Having a fashion week does not make a city fashionable.  Cleveland would be an example of this (as would Columbus when talking clothing retailer headquarters).  That would be the same line of thinking that Houston is more cultured in live performances since it has (allegedly) the second largest concentrated theater district in the United States.

 

Apparel, absolutely. Fashion ... debatable.

 

I think May Day's meaning is pretty clear. The Columbus based companies may produce a lot of clothing, but that doesn't necessarily make it fashionable clothing.  Or, Columbus may pump out a lot of apparel, but that doesn't make it a fashionable city based on the clothing choices of its inhabitants?

 

fashion: a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people

: the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles

 

Whether you like Victoria Secret or A&F or even Big Lots, they pump out "fashionable" clothing, by definition.  Is it Alexander Wang or fashion-conscience designers like the houses of Paris, Milan, Tokyo, or New York?  No.  But it is a type of fashion. MayDay's point is valid (we all know what he means, really), but I suppose it's about interpretation of what exactly is fashion as a term which the article keeps vague.

I'm not saying we are a fashionable city. What I am saying is basing being fashionable on numbers and rankings causes other cities to be considered fashionable when they may or may not be (like Cleveland) based off of various rankings when it comes to fashion.

Fashion can run the gamut from being a popular form of dress to the provocative and cutting-edge, the latter of which is likely more thought of as "fashion" and more attributed to long-standing capitals of Milan, Paris, or NYC.

 

Where Columbus as a city or population falls in the category of being fashionable is debatable and has brought up some good discussion. My personal thought is that Columbus is more of a fashion hub. It's a center of the flow of ideas and products in the industry. The display and the outward marketing of the finished product remains based in the de-facto fashion capitals.

 

I do think, however, that with the city's base as a fashion hub a change in culture to create a more fashionable populace could be easier to accomplish than in other locales. Such trends are already visible via CCAD and events such as Highball. FMMF was supposed to be the breakthrough in creating such a culture, but the follow through has left very much to be desired. I do like the idea of creating more of a "fashion district" though with the nodes of fashion creativity being fairly spaced out among the Northeast suburbs, the CCAD campus, and the OSU UAS/Short North/OSU main, it'd be easier said than done.