Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon brings together creativity, technology to fashion and retail industries
The 36-hour 2020 Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon (DF+TH) brings together creativity and technology to develop solutions to the problems facing the fashion and retail industries. The event also provides networking opportunities with industry experts. The 2020 Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon is scheduled for May 15-17 at Grand Circus in Detroit located at 1570 Woodward Avenue and is co-hosted by Whim and Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC), an initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
The DF+TH was created in 2018 as a strategic event to attract investment and create jobs for Detroit. Detroit has been home to creatives for many generations. With the goal of diversifying trades and manufacturing, the DF+TH has an opportunity to impact technology and innovation to bring creatives together in a new and sustainable way.
“The DF+TH is unique, because we are putting together groups of creatives, retailers, developers, designers, and data analysts to solve industry problems. The event pushes people outside of their comfort zones and focuses on innovation and collaboration as problem-solving techniques,” said Lori McColl, founder of DF+TH and Whim. “We all know Detroit is seeing a revitalization, and it is important for creatives in the apparel manufacturing and design space to be involved in this movement as well. The DF+TH has and continues to facilitate growth in this industry throughout the state.”
“The DF+TH is a unique platform that brings creative minds together in Detroit and demonstrates how their talents and businesses could grow and thrive here in the state,” said Tanya Markos-Vanno, development and operations manager, MEDC’s Pure Michigan Business Connect. “This annual event does an excellent job of providing mentorship and innovation opportunities to participants, showcasing how Detroit and Michigan play an important role in the growing apparel, retail, and high-tech fields.”
The 2020 DF+TH is building off the innovation and diversity of last year’s successful hackathon. The 2019 DF+TH brought together more than 70 participants from 33 Michigan cities as well as from other states and countries to work together to solve real problems facing established brands in the fashion industry. Those experiencing DF+TH in 2020 can expect to see new partners and problem statements to support the event experience.
Registration for this event on Evenbrite. Participants can sign up individually, in pairs, or as a team. Team members may include coders, designers, artists, retailers, entrepreneurs, product & data specialists, and creatives. For more information on this no-cost event, visit www.detroitfashionhackathon.
