Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) and Columbus Fashion Alliance (CFA) today announced a new collaboration that will expand opportunities for students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals while strengthening Columbus’ reputation as a national fashion capital. The partnership centers on CFA’s launch of The Loom—a 43,000-square-foot fashion innovation center located adjacent to CCAD’s campus—and on the two organizations’ shared commitment to growing the city’s creative economy.
The move solidifies a powerful collaboration between two organizations dedicated to expanding downtown Columbus into a thriving hub for fashion and design. With CCAD’s nationally recognized Fashion Design program located next door to CFA’s new headquarters and fashion incubator, more designers and entrepreneurs will be working, creating, and building businesses in the city’s core. The growth of professional resources and industry connections will foster more successful startups and small businesses, further fueling Columbus’ creative and economic expansion.
“Columbus has long been a city where fashion thrives, and this collaboration represents the next chapter in building the region’s reputation as a fashion destination,” said Dr. Melanie Corn, president of Columbus College of Art & Design. “By joining forces with CFA, we’re not only providing our students with greater access to mentorship, resources, and entrepreneurial opportunities, but also making Columbus an even more appealing destination for aspiring designers and young professionals who want to launch their careers.”
The Loom, opening in the former CCAD building, will serve as a hub for education, brand development, retail innovation, and community activation—all under one roof. The space will provide access to state-of-the-art industry equipment, immersive learning experiences, networking events, and mentorship opportunities for creatives of all ages. From prototyping products to preparing for a retail launch, The Loom offers a central hub where people at every stage of their creative journey can find support.
“In Columbus, fashion is our business,” said Yohannan (Yogi) Terrell, founder and director of Columbus Fashion Alliance. “We are one of the top cities in the nation equipped to grow fashion-based businesses, with production houses, distribution centers, and retail headquarters all within reach. With The Loom, we’re creating a space that enhances the culture of Columbus and supports emerging artists, entrepreneurs, and brands. We’re proud to join forces with CCAD to help move fashion forward and ensure Columbus remains a leader in this industry.”
The partnership also expands access to fashion education and resources, making creative expression and career pursuits more attainable for people from all walks of life. From CCAD’s Saturday Morning Art Classes for children and its nationally recognized BFA in Fashion Design, to CFA’s community programming and innovation lab space, opportunities now exist for individuals of every age, background, and experience level to discover fashion, develop skills, and connect with industry mentors.
This collaboration not only bolsters the downtown creative community but also reinforces Columbus’ standing as a fashion capital alongside New York and Los Angeles. With more than $5 million invested in the city’s fashion industry by Franklin County in recent years—and with CCAD and CFA anchoring its creative core—Columbus is poised for even greater national recognition as a destination for fashion and design.
About Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus College of Art & Design teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States. CCAD offers nine BFA programs and a Master of Professional Studies in User Experience Design that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and business at the highest level. Additionally, CCAD offers year-round community art classes for children and adults of all ages, led by local creators and designers skilled in their craft. For more information, visit ccad.edu.
About Columbus Fashion Alliance
Columbus Fashion Alliance is a collective of creatives passionate about the fashion industry in Columbus, Ohio. Their goal is to support the creation and growth of creatives and fashion-based businesses through multiple facets. First, they look to educate their members and the community with skills that add value to their brands and increase their knowledge as a professional. They are constructing facilities that house industrial-grade equipment, such as sewing machines, sergers, DTG, fabric etc., with which their members have access to build a business without the overhead of this incredibly useful but expensive equipment. They coach their members and community on how to go from conception to production and all the areas in between. Lastly, they look to create opportunities to connect artists with retail professionals and find opportunities that are mutually beneficial.
In Columbus, fashion is their business as they are one of the top cities in the nation, equipped with the means and opportunity with which to grow a fashion-based business. They have record numbers of production houses, distribution centers, and retail headquarters, which allows a new and emerging brand to have its desired resources at the end of its street. CFA is excited to help move fashion forward and enhance the culture of Columbus into one that fosters and supports emerging artists and brands. For more information, visit columbusfashion.org.
