Entrepreneurs in the Making

“Many third world countries have incubators, often to try and utilize and preserve local skills” like weaving, dying and sewing, says Tracy Kennedy, (right) manager of the Dunedin Fashion Incubator, started in 2001. Like other incubators, the Dunedin organization offers different levels of support, providing advice to hundreds of part-time members in an outreach program and mentoring and studio space to a handful of full-time resident designers. Charmaine Reveley, a former resident whose dresses are sold throughout New Zealand who now has six full-time employees, said the program also gave her valuable advice about retailing. “They brought in wholesalers, and taught us how to choose and approach a store,” Reveley said.