Young Minority-Owned Fashion Brands Set To Thrive In Columbus Ohio
Ohio Pen/10185740

COLUMBUS, Ohio - OhioPen -- Non-profits, Columbus Fashion Council (CFC) and The Frank Project, are partnering to develop & launch Columbus based young minority-owned fashion brands, providing education, resources, networking, and PR/Marketing while immersing the brand into the regional & national fashion ecosystem.

"Developing these young brands and introducing them into our fashion ecosystem will greatly assist in their growth & sustainability within the fashion industry, while contributing to American Fashion as a whole." - Thomas McClure, Founder/Executive Director of the Columbus Fashion Council

The Frank Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose 10-week program targets underserved Columbus youth, allowing participants to gain business experience & creative skills through classes, workshops, and events/programs. The program is currently accepting applications for their January 2023 timeframe.

"We are excited to partner with the CFC to help bring young designers to the forefront of the fashion industry. We often see talent go untapped in the design industry, and The Frank Project is here to change that by uplifting underrepresented voices." - Jillian Ross, Creative Director of The Frank Project & Franklinton Press

More on Ohio Pen

• $17.4 Million Total Revenue for First Half of 2025 (up 31.8% YOY) for Global Wet Trades Services Provider with High Value Bitcoin Investments
• $12.8 Million Net Revenue for 2024 for Cloud-Based Crowdsourcing Recruitment and SaaS-Enabled HR Solutions Provider: Baiya International Group Inc
• Nationwide Completes Acquisition of Allstate Employer Stop Loss Business for $1.25 billion
• Hire Virtue Announces Executive Sponsorship Opportunity for Houston Hiring Blitz & Job Fair on August 6, 2025
• Inked & Maxim Model Teisha Mechetti Turns Heads—And Builds Community Impact

The first incubated brand to come out of The Frank Project is the brand "Verity". Owned by two women of color, Hiba Alshahal & Alicia Williams, the brand has been accepted into the Columbus Fashion Council's flagship program Fashion Week Columbus 2022. Verity's collection, Collective Reign, will debut on October 15th during Fashion Week Columbus.

"Working with the Frank Project and the CFC has given us the amazing opportunity to connect directly with our community & hear their opinions on what makes them feel confident, empowered, and comforted. Collective Reign is our first cut-and-sew collection gaining inspiration from those who can see themselves and others as royalty through what they wear and how they support each other through trials in life." - Verity

About Columbus Fashion Council:
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. www.ColumbusFashionCouncil.org

More on Ohio Pen

• Plan to Launch Silo Technologies' Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Ultimate Nationwide Deployment via Exclusive Partnership: Stock Symbol: BULT
• Robert Michael & Co. Real Estate Team Celebrates Industry Recognition and Showcases Premier Central Florida Listings
• AI-Based Neurotoxin Countermeasure Initiative Launched to Address Emerging National Security Needs: Renovaro, Inc. (N A S D A Q: RENB)
• The Naturist World Just Shifted — NaturismRE Ignites a Global Resurgence
• $796,000 in Q2 Revenue Marks Highest Earnings to Date on 3 Trailing Quarters of Profitability in Multi-Billion Homebuilding Sector: Stock Symbol: IVDN

About The Frank Project:
The FRANK Project (non-profit) is a community incubator that supports and motivates entrepreneurial young adults in Columbus on their path to becoming creative powerhouses. The 10-week program, targeted to underserved Columbus youth, allows participants to gain business experience through the screen-printing process. www.thefrankproject.org

About Verity:
Verity celebrates the fusion of community and self expression by discovering our identities through fashion. We are two women of color cultivating an intimate community for connection through the clothes that armor us. From a few authentic pieces to a whole new look, Verity provides confidence walking into any space. thebrandverity.com