Headstart Fashion is merging with the international innovation network Lifestyle & Design Cluster

Since April 2016, HEADSTART FASHION (HSF) has existed as a Business Fund for the purpose of creating value for the fashion industry. In order to further strengthen the already functioning activities, HSF´s activities will be transferred to Lifestyle & Design Cluster in 2019, which is an innovation network under the Ministry of Education and Research.

The most succesful HSF activities will be continued by Lifestyle & Design Cluster, as well as several of the activities being expanded.

The timing is good in light of the overall recommendations of the Governments Simplification Committee, for having fewer but larger clusters in Denmark. At the same time, the new Danish Business Promotion Act means that from 2019 it will no longer be the task of Region Midtjylland to carry out business development.

Christian Chapelle, Director of HSF says:

“I an very proud that I have been the driving force in establishing and building HSF from scratch to the organisation today -a dynamic and visible organisation that creates development and cohesion in the fashion industry through an incubation environment, business-developing activities, network groups and events. HSF will in future be a part of a nationally well-founded organisation, and i am looking forward to being responsible for lifting the most successful HSF activities to new heights under the auspices of Lifestyle & Design Cluster, where I will join as Head of Fashion.”

Director og Lifestyle & Design Cluster Betina Simonsen continues:

“As a former chairman of HEADSTART FASHION, I am pleased that we have had the opportunity to continue the good activities for fashion brands in and around Aarhus, and with Christian Chapelle we continue a focus on the fashion industry in Aarhus and at the same time uses the good experiences from HSF in other national activities.”