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FABRIC TEMPE

TEMPE, AZ · EIN 854318633 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE A25 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · fabricincubator.com
revenue
$489K
expenses
$511K
net assets
$-8K
employees
30
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

Fabric Tempe's mission is to provide apparel entrepreneurs with training, guidance, innovative industry resources, and access to no-minimum and on-demand manufacturing so they can build sustainable fashion businesses domestically.

profile · synthesized from sources

FABRIC is a nonprofit organization that provides training, resources, and access to domestic small-batch manufacturing for apparel entrepreneurs. It offers a comprehensive "ROADMAP" program to guide designers through the entire production process, emphasizing sustainability and ethical practices. The organization operates from Tempe, Arizona, and serves entrepreneurs across the U.S.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $0
    All community members and entrepreneurs receive benefits including a free sourcing library, free business directory listing to all fabric industry pros, free fashion job classified ads, free local fashion event calendar, free and discounted event space to select non-profits and qualifying entities, discounted office/studio space to all industry pros, free and discounted events and classes. Also access to discounted industry design, manufacturing, branding, business startup and marketing services. Access to no minimum manufacturing using the Apparel Entrepreneur Digital Assistant road map.
named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

ASU Internships
Hosts Arizona State University students for internships, providing hands-on experience and access to industry tools.
Apparel Entrepreneur ROADMAP
A digital platform providing step-by-step guidance for domestic, small-batch manufacturing, covering design development, manufacturing, business startup, branding, marketing, sales, and technology.
Behind The Seams
A free monthly industry networking and educational event for students and professionals.
College Affiliation Program
Offers affiliate opportunities to educational institutions, allowing their students to access the Apparel Entrepreneur ROADMAP at a discounted rate.
Fashion Business Directory
A free online directory for industry professionals, service providers, and brands to connect.
Fashion Events Calendar
A calendar for posting and finding industry events.
Job Classifieds
A free platform for finding fashion industry jobs.
Maker's Space
Provides a space for students and entrepreneurs to work on class projects or develop their own apparel brands.
Sourcing Library
Provides free access to resources for sourcing wholesale materials and trims for sewn products.
activities · 8 clusters

what they do

  • Fashion Industry Education & Internship Programs 15 activities
    • ASU educational partnerships and fee waivers
      Provides kits, events, classes, tours, and resources for fashion classes and clubs, and waives fees for ASU classes and students to support academic integration and accessibility.
    • Community Engagement and Networking Events
      Provides a kit for fashion classes and clubs, waives fees for ASU classes and students, and hosts a free monthly industry networking and educational event called "Behind The Seams" for students and professionals.
    • Community Engagement and Networking Events
      Provides a kit for fashion classes and clubs, including events, classes, tours, and resources, and waives fees for ASU classes and students. The organization also hosts a free monthly industry networking and educational event called "Behind The Seams" for students and professionals.
    • Educational Tours and Speaking Engagements
      Offers informational tours, both in-person and virtual, for individuals and groups interested in apparel manufacturing and technology, with two educational tours provided weekly. The organization also provides industry experts to speak at classes, schools, or organizations in Arizona on topics such as fashion design, apparel manufacturing, fashion technology, and sustainability.
    • Educational Tours and Speaking Engagements
      Offers informational tours, both in-person and virtual, for individuals and groups interested in apparel manufacturing and technology, and provides industry experts to speak at classes, schools, or organizations in Arizona on topics such as fashion design, apparel manufacturing, fashion technology, and sustainability.
    • Educational and informational tours
      Provides in-person and virtual educational tours focused on sustainable, domestic, small-batch apparel manufacturing and fashion technology, including two free virtual tours weekly and low-cost in-person options.
    • Educational tours on apparel manufacturing
      Offers in-person and virtual informational tours focused on sustainable, domestic, small-batch apparel manufacturing and fashion technology for individuals, groups, and classes; provides two tours weekly (free virtually, $10 in-person).
    • Industry expert speaking engagements
      Provides industry experts to speak at classes, schools, or organizations in Arizona on topics including fashion design, apparel manufacturing, fashion technology, and sustainability.
    • Industry expert speaking engagements
      Provides industry experts to speak at classes, schools, and organizations across Arizona on topics including fashion design, apparel manufacturing, fashion technology, and sustainability.
    • Industry networking events
      Hosts a free monthly educational and networking event called "Behind The Seams," connecting students with industry professionals.
    • Internship and Scholarship Programs
      Hosts fashion student interns from Arizona State University (ASU), with most earning academic credits. Additionally, provides scholarships to ASU students for FABRIC's Apparel Entrepreneur ROADMAP program.
    • Internship and scholarship programs
      Hosts annual internships for ASU and fashion students, with over 20 interns hosted between 2018 and 2024, and provides scholarships to ASU students for participation in FABRIC’s entrepreneurial training programs.
    • Internship and scholarship programs
      Hosts annual fashion and sustainability internships for ASU students (6–7 per year), and provides scholarships to ASU students for participation in FABRIC’s Apparel Entrepreneur ROADMAP program (16–20 annually between 2021–2023).
    • Monthly industry networking events
      Hosts a free monthly educational and networking event called "Behind The Seams," connecting students with industry professionals.
    • Student Internships and Scholarships
      Hosts fashion student interns from ASU, providing them with practical experience and academic credit, and offers scholarships to ASU students for FABRIC's Apparel Entrepreneur ROADMAP program.
  • Apparel & Product Prototyping Support 7 activities
    • Apparel Manufacturing and Prototyping Services
      Provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and creative workspace for apparel development and manufacturing. This includes helping hundreds of apparel entrepreneurs bring ideas to life using the ROADMAP platform, developing patterns, tech packs, and sewn prototypes for various products, and manufacturing items like medical gowns.
    • Apparel Manufacturing and Prototyping Services
      Helps apparel entrepreneurs develop and bring their ideas to life using the ROADMAP platform, provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and creative workspace, and has manufactured products such as 800,000 medical gowns during the pandemic, a mask prototype for the X Prize, and the cover for the NeoLight medical device.
    • Apparel entrepreneurship support via ROADMAP platform
      Supports apparel entrepreneurs in bringing their ideas to market using the ROADMAP platform, having helped hundreds of entrepreneurs develop and launch products.
    • Brand support and manufacturing partnerships
      Has supported over 2,000 brands since 2016 through manufacturing, prototyping, and product development services.
    • Brand support and program funding
      Has supported over 2,000 brands since 2016 and provided over $15 million in free or discounted programs and services to entrepreneurs and learners.
    • Product development and prototyping services
      Provides end-to-end product development and manufacturing services, including creating patterns, tech packs, and sewn prototypes for innovative products such as the NeoLight medical device cover and custom banner bags made from recycled ASU banners.
    • Support for apparel entrepreneurs via ROADMAP
      Helped hundreds of apparel entrepreneurs bring their product ideas to life using the ROADMAP platform, providing access to tools, mentorship, and manufacturing support.
  • Certification Programs in Retail, Apparel, and Logistics 4 activities
    • Apparel Entrepreneur Certificate Programs
      Offers certificate programs for apparel entrepreneurs, including an "Apparel Entrepreneur Crash Course," an "Apparel Production Management Certificate" bootcamp covering the entire development and manufacturing process for sewn products, and a "Fashion Design Fundamentals Certificate" bootcamp introducing essential fashion design skills.
    • Apparel Entrepreneur Certificate Programs
      Offers certificate programs for apparel entrepreneurs, including an "Apparel Entrepreneur Crash Course," an "Apparel Production Management Certificate" bootcamp covering the entire development and manufacturing process for sewn products, and a "Fashion Design Fundamentals Certificate" bootcamp introducing essential fashion design skills.
    • Certificate programs for apparel entrepreneurs
      Offers three bootcamp-style certificate programs — Apparel Entrepreneur Crash Course, Apparel Production Management Certificate, and Fashion Design Fundamentals Certificate — designed for aspiring apparel entrepreneurs.
    • Certificate programs for apparel entrepreneurs
      Offers three bootcamp-style certificate programs — Apparel Entrepreneur Crash Course, Apparel Production Management Certificate, and Fashion Design Fundamentals Certificate — designed for aspiring apparel entrepreneurs to gain foundational and advanced skills.
  • Plastic Waste Reuse & Recycling Programs 3 activities
    • Sustainable Product Development
      Developed a banner bag program to recycle ASU's discarded banners into tote bags, training individuals from The Centers for Habilitation to make the bags, which are sold in the ASU Bookstore.
    • Sustainable Product Development and Training
      Developed a banner bag program to recycle ASU's discarded banners into tote bags, training individuals from The Centers for Habilitation to make the bags, which are sold in the ASU Bookstore.
    • Sustainable product and workforce program with ASU
      Developed a banner bag program that recycles ASU's discarded banners into tote bags, trains individuals from The Centers for Habilitation to manufacture them, sells the bags in the ASU Bookstore, and won the ASU President’s Sustainability Award.
  • Appointment-Based Service Access 1 activity
    • Appointment-based service access
      Provides services during weekday business hours by appointment, enabling structured access to facilities and expert support for entrepreneurs and learners.
  • Applied Research & Prototyping Support 1 activity
    • Collaborative product development and prototyping
      Partners with research teams and innovators to develop and prototype products, including an award-winning mask developed with ASU (winning $500K of the $1M X Prize), and the cover for the NeoLight medical device (winner of the AZ Innovation Challenge).
  • PPE Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Pandemic medical gown manufacturing
      Manufactured 800,000 medical gowns during the pandemic in response to public health needs.
  • Uncategorized 12 activities
    • Access to advanced equipment and workspace
      Provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and creative workspace in Arizona for entrepreneurs, students, and industry users.
    • Apprenticeship training in sewing and digital tech
      Trains apprentices in operating automated sewing equipment (e.g., lock stitch, sergers, coverstitch), using digital tech packs for accuracy, understanding material properties, and completing over 50 skill-building practices and six portfolio projects.
    • Free membership-based live classes
      Offers live classes accessible to individuals through a free membership model, providing educational opportunities in apparel and fashion technology.
    • Free membership-based live classes
      Offers live classes accessible to individuals with a free membership, providing educational opportunities in apparel and fashion technology.
    • Free or discounted programs and services
      Has provided over $15 million in free or discounted programs and services since inception, including waived fees for ASU students and classes.
    • Industrial Sewing and Production Workforce Training
      Provides a 192-hour workforce training program called Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing & Production (FISP) in a factory setting, utilizing advanced technologies. This includes training apprentices on automated equipment, digital tech packs, material properties, and skill-focused practices with cutwork bundles and projects for a skill portfolio.
    • Industrial Sewing and Production Workforce Training
      Provides a 192-hour workforce training program called Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing & Production (FISP) in a factory setting, training apprentices on automated equipment, digital tech packs, material properties, and requiring completion of skill-focused practices and projects for a skill portfolio.
    • Pandemic response manufacturing
      Manufactured 800,000 medical gowns during the pandemic and developed a winning mask prototype with ASU research teams that earned $500K in the X Prize competition.
    • Physical facility operations in Tempe
      Operates a physical location in the Maker's District of Tempe, Arizona, offering access to state-of-the-art equipment and creative workspace during weekday business hours by appointment.
    • Physical location operations in Tempe
      Operates a physical facility in the Maker's District of Tempe, Arizona, serving as a hub for educational, training, and manufacturing activities in fashion technology and apparel production.
    • Workforce training in industrial sewing
      Delivers a 192-hour Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing & Production (FISP) workforce training program in a factory setting using advanced technologies, preparing apprentices for careers in apparel manufacturing.
    • Workforce training program (FISP)
      Runs a 192-hour workforce training program called Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing & Production (FISP) in a factory setting using advanced technologies, training apprentices on industrial sewing equipment and digital workflows.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$489K
Contributions & grants$12K2%
Program service revenue$477K98%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$511K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$434K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$37K
Cash$27K
Investments$0
Liabilities$45K
Net assets$-8K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 3
  • ANGELA JOHNSON — Co-Chair
  • LESLIE LANGE — Secretary
  • SHERRI BARRY — Chairman
relationships · 25

who they work with

  • ASU Entrepreneur + Innovation Program Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • AZ Costume Institute Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Angela Johnson Partner — Co-Founder who leads virtual informational tours and is an expert speaker.
  • Angela Johnson Partner — Co-founder of FABRIC and award-winning designer.
  • Arizona Apprenticeship Advisory Committee Partner — Mentioned as an important entity related to the apprenticeship program.
  • Arizona Commerce Authority Partner — Affiliate partner; NeoLight product won AZ Innovation Challenge with ACA.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Located on the ASU campus and provides resources, services, and expertise to ASU students and faculty, including internships and scholarships.
  • Bavana World Project Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Chicago Fashion Incubator Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • East Valley Institute of Technology Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Fashion Group International Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Fashion Tech Works Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Garment League Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • ISAIC Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • ISAIC Partner — Developed the Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing & Production (FISP) training program used by FABRIC.
  • Luminosity Lab Partner — Worked with students from Luminosity Lab to develop a mask that won an X Prize and an inflight medical kit.
  • Maker's Row Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Mesa Community College Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • NOVO Broadway Apartments Partner — Hosts FABRIC's physical location on the north side of the building, providing shared access and parking infrastructure.
  • Phoenix College Partner — Affiliate partner.
  • Sherri Barry Partner — Co-Founder and expert speaker.
  • Sherri Barry Partner — Co-founder of FABRIC and successful fashion brand owner.
  • The Centers for Habilitation Partner — Trains an enclave from The Centers for Habilitation to make tote bags from recycled ASU banners.
  • Tyre Angel Partner — Supported the February 2024 session of the Apparel Entrepreneur Crash Course.
  • Workforce Arizona Council Partner — Mentioned as an important entity related to the apprenticeship program.