The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator at Macy's Opens Thursday

Mayor Michael Nutter welcomed five designers Thursday to their creative home at Macy's Philadelphia Fashion Incubator.

Nutter was joined by Terry Lundgren, president and chairman of Macy's, and Paul Levy, president and CEO of the Center City District.

The designers in residence - or DIRs - will spend a year working on the third floor of the Center City Macy's, and will focus on the business of fashion and making professional contacts, that will help them run a profitable business in Philadelhia.

They are:

1. Drexel University graduate Autumn Kietponglert. Her womenswear line, called Heartless Revival, features zippers.

2. Philadelphia University graduate Kaitlyn Doherty. Her womenswear line, inspired by her travels abroad, is called Kaitlyn Doherty.

3. Moore College of Art & Design graduate Melissa D'Agostino. She is developing an artsy womenswear line featuring wrap silhouettes in tie-dyed fabrics. Her collection is called D'Agostino Fashion Textile Design.

4. Design duo Latifat Obajinmi and Moriamo Johnson are using traditional African prints to create modern silhouettes. Their collection is called Aso Damisi.

Each designer has been in the business between one and three years. Their work will be featured in a Macy's-sponsored fashion show at The Philadelphia Collection in September. Designers will have a solid business plan at the end of their first four months in the program, says Elissa Bloom, PFI director. And by the end of the year each of the designers will have the business skills needed to expand.