Needle Trades Innovation Challenge

The Needle Trades Innovation Challenge sets out an open call for sewn good innovation ideas that could be designed, developed and cut and sewn in Baltimore.

Top Innovation Product Development Expert - Nicole Myrick from Belvidere Terrace Atelier

The winner of this Needle Trades Innovation Challenge would keep complete ownership of their intellectual property, but would be required to keep the product development and 1-year of launch production in Baltimore. The person with the winning idea for this challenge would receive a $500 award fund and $10,000 of development services for this product in the Fashion Innovation Hub located in the Baltimore Innovation Center.

Entrepreneurship training led by International Fashion Entrepreneurship expert Stacy Stube

The winner would also receive programming through the Needle Trades All Stars Accelerator to advance through industry knowledge to provide the best chance at success when launching this concept into a venture.

Baltimore the Fashion Capital City for Impact-Driven Fashion Entrepreneurship

Apply

Applications Open: Saturday, January 27, 2024

Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 18, 2024

Top 10 Announced: August 31, 2024

People’s Choice Voting: September 1 - 30, 2024

Winner Announced: October 5, 2024

The submission process would include a 1-minute pitch video on the product, image representing the idea and a three sentence description of the product innovation. The submissions will run from late January - mid August.

At the end of August the top 10-ventures will be shared in a public vote to allow the community to decide which new Needle Trades Innovation will be awarded.

The winner will be announced at the Needle Trades conference on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the Fashion Innovation Hub.