As a non-profit 501(c)(3) status organization, the Columbus Fashion Council’s mission is to provide scholarships to fashion design students and a platform for local fashion designers. Our vision is to expand the fashion economy in Central Ohio through a combination of industry growth initiatives, community organizations support, funding access opportunities, and creative program development. We strive to nurture and develop the fashion community to keep our fashion talent living and working in Central Ohio. WWD ranks Columbus third in the nation for the number of resident fashion designers, right behind LA and NY. Forbes recently ranked Columbus as the number one city in the nation for startups. Business.org ranks Columbus as a top five city for entrepreneurs. Columbus is perfectly situated for fashion designers and other fashion related small businesses to be successful and contribute to the city’s economic growth and to American Fashion. The Columbus Fashion Council is leading the way with robust programs such as our established flagship program Fashion Week Columbus, and other high impact programs such as the Columbus Fashion Council Scholarship, the Columbus Fashion Awards, The Fashion Presentations, Philanthropy Meets Fashion, and The Fashion Industry Conference. With the partnership of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) through the CFDA Connects Program, our organization is able to offer additional resources, services, and industry connections to Ohio based fashion designers, while also representing Columbus, Ohio in national and global conversations within the fashion industry.