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UpFront
UpFront with FABRIC, Part 2: Co-Founders Angela Johnson and Sherri Barry
By Dave Gardner, Editor/Publisher of The NEEDLE'S EYE
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FABRIC co-Founders: Angela Johnson (left) – Incubator Visionary, Community Builder, and Apparel Entrepreneur Consultant and Sherri Barry (right) – Incubator Visionary, Fashion Tech Expert, and Business Operations Specialist
Angela Johnson is an award-winning, fashion designer, industry innovator, disruptor, humanitarian, and consultant to hundreds of emerging fashion brands. She is best known as the Co-Founder of AZ’s fashion incubator FABRIC and for creating upcycled ball gowns from “thrifted” T-shirts under her eponymous fashion brand Angela Johnson Design. Angela’s 25+ years of industry and entrepreneurial experiences from LA to AZ have fueled her mission to mentor the next generation of apparel entrepreneurs as well as her vision to champion a new, innovative, tech-based, responsible, and sustainable U.S. fashion industry for the 21st Century in the state of Arizona.
Angela got her start in Los Angeles, California working in design and production for X-Large Manufacturing, the line owned by Mike Diamond of the Beastie Boys, and X-Girl, the line owned by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. In the mid-1990s she co-owned Monkeywench, a board sports-inspired collection with Days of Our Lives actress Christie Clark that was featured in Seventeen Magazine and worn by celebrities such as Tori Spelling on 90210, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christina Applegate, and others.
After relocating to Arizona in 2001 and struggling to find industry resources, she dedicated her life to teaching, mentoring, and providing resources to the next generation of apparel entrepreneurs. She has taught fashion classes at Arizona State University, Maricopa Community College, Collins College (Phoenix), Art Institute of Phoenix, New School for the Arts & Academics, and LabelHorde, and is also a fashion business consultant to hundreds of national designers and students. She has been featured in countless books, magazines, and television/internet programs and is the recipient of dozens of awards including the Garment League’s Fashion Humanitarian, City of Phoenix Athena Finalist, Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business, Scottsdale’s Artist of the Year, and FGI-AZ’s Rising Star. She was also the Regional Director of the non-profit Fashion Group International of Arizona from 2014-2017.
Angela Johnson is a real champion for the Arizona fashion industry.
Sherri Barry is a co-founder of FABRIC and the founder of Arizona Fashion Source. She built her career helping others as well as the environment. After co-founding FABRIC Incubator in Tempe, Sherri launched Arizona Fashion Source a reusable PPE manufacturing facility designed to keep disposable medical gowns out of landfills. Through the Adea Everyday Luxury brand, Sherri continues to support female-led, environmentally conscious initiatives. She believes a well-made product not only delivers the best value to her customers but also limits waste through its longevity and versatility. She is a true entrepreneur at heart and can support significant capacity-building through her experience, education, innovation, and hard work.
Sherri is a former design entrepreneur and senior marketing, sales, and operations executive with a proven track record in generating substantial revenue growth. She has supervised, with profit & loss and overall decision-making responsibility, 275+ retail stores generating US$300+ million in annual sales. She has executive experience overseeing and executing strategy for fully integrated marketing campaigns and sales efforts and proudly launched a new brand campaign that was recognized as a finalist at the 2013 North American Effie Awards. Sherri has business acumen in retailing, budgeting, financial analysis, strategy development, team building, communications, and supply chain logistics. She started her own apparel company, Design Intoxication, in 2006 and launched lines under the labels TeamCouture and CompanyCouture. The struggles of manufacturing in California ignited her passion for creating a reliable local resource for emerging designers. Sherri Barry is a true entrepreneur at heart and is a recipient of numerous awards and recognition.
Sherri is a former design entrepreneur and senior marketing, sales, and operations executive with a proven track record in generating substantial revenue growth. She has supervised, with profit & loss and overall decision-making responsibility, 275+ retail stores generating US$300+ million in annual sales. She has executive experience overseeing and executing strategy for fully integrated marketing campaigns and sales efforts and proudly launched a new brand campaign that was recognized as a finalist at the 2013 North American Effie Awards. Sherri has business acumen in retailing, budgeting, financial analysis, strategy development, team building, communications, and supply chain logistics. She started her own apparel company, Design Intoxication, in 2006 and launched lines under the labels TeamCouture and CompanyCouture. The struggles of manufacturing in California ignited her passion for creating a reliable local resource for emerging designers. Sherri Barry is a true entrepreneur at heart and is a recipient of numerous awards and recognition.
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