The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator welcomes 2013 class of Designers in Residence

The City of Philadelphia announced Friday a new group of emerging designers selected to participate in the second year of the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator housed in Macy's Center City.

The fashion initiative, which was created in 2012 to help support emerging Philly-based design talent, is a collaborative effort between the City of Philadelphia, Center City District, Macy's Center City, and local educational institutions devoted to fashion design. The Incubator is essentially an opportunity for the city's top design talent to catapult their brands – and their dreams – into fruition.

In addition to having access to a Project Runway-inspired daily workspace on the third floor of the legendary Wanamaker Building, the new DIRs will partake in a year's worth of informational workshops and professional seminars under the guidance of Executive Director Elissa Bloom. "I am excited to see what the future has in store for the 2012 DIRs and am thrilled to embark on a new year with five talented designers," Bloom said in the release. The DIRs will also take monthly trips to New York to meet with industry experts including Fern Mallis, Tommy Hilfiger and Steven Alan.

The inaugural class of Designers-in-Residence - Autumn Kietponglert (Heartless Revival), Kaitlyn Doherty (Kaitlyn Elizabeth), Melissa D'Agostino (D'Agostino Fashion Textile Design), and Latifat Obajinmi and Moriamo Johnson (Aso Damisi) -welcomed the incoming group in a bittersweet occasion that marked the end of their yearlong residency Friday. They will announce new collaborations and projects in the coming months.

Meet the 2013 class of the PFIMCC (Philadelphia Fashion Incubator Macy's Center City) below:

Melissa Choi & Pia Panaligan (Senpai + Kohai)
- Academic Partner: Philadelphia University
- Focus: Delivering great quality and timeless pieces, showcasing textile influences from around the world.

Annina King (Granaté Prêt)
- Academic Partner: Drexel University
- Focus: Capturing the spirit and forms in nature while embracing techniques that to pay homage to both the ancient and yet continuously new world around us.

Devin Anne Pauley (Morgia Bridal)
- Academic Partner: Moore College of Art & Design
- Focus: Hand patterned, sewn and constructed gowns made in the US with the attention to every detail based on the clients feedback.

Leah Delfiner (Pretty Pretty Rebel)
- Open Call Selection
- Focus: Fresh, fun, and colorful items created with hi-quality fabrics using detailed construction and designed for comfort and function, handcrafted in Philadelphia.

Trisha Williams (Trisha Will)
- Open Call Selection
- Focus: Emphasizing the strategic use of color combined with a trained attention to construction while paying homage to her Barbadian heritage.