Detroit is synonymous with two things: cars and Motown.
There may be a third item on that list soon, if a certain group of people get their way. That thing? Fashion.
Yes, Detroit may be soon be synonymous with fashion. At first, the idea of a city that conjures up images of industry and large-scale production becoming a hub for fashion seems unlikely.
However, according to a recent article in CNN Money, there are a number of people within the industry who believe the city to be the perfect base for a fashion revolution.
That article is entitled 'Detroit swap: Auto plants for fashion showrooms - Detroit has skilled manufactures and a unique industrial design sensibility - strengths city planners are tapping as they try jumpstart a local fashion industry'.
Since the onset of the recession, the automotive industry has suffered significant economic problems.
Thousands of people have lost their jobs and a great deal of the old industry space now lies empty and is cheap to rent.
Of particular interest to the fashionistas is the first of these two city perks - the people.
As Joe Faris, senior designer at Schott N.Y.C, said: "Car designers are very aware of fashion and they understand the principles of design. Creative people are just creative.
"The auto industry has a huge pool of incredibly talented and creative people that are just waiting to be tapped into."
This is a sentiment that Brian Heath, fashion photographer and producer of Detroit Fashion Week, agrees with, though he also highlights the benefits of the cheap rent for fashion start-ups.
He said: "Michigan is more approachable for a designer who wants to be able to afford housing and also run a business and make a profit. I think that Michigan is a key spot for a fashion industry to start and to blossom."
While these two could perhaps be deemed 'bigger movers' within the industry, there are plenty of examples that others are making a go of introducing fashion to the city.
Jenna Kator, who will be showing off her line of handbags in the Jenna Kator Collection at Detroit Fashion Week, believes very strongly in the city's trend-setting credentials.
She said: "Everyone thinks of Detroit as automotive. We need to be known for more than that."
Whatever the ultimate success of this fashion revolution is, it seems as though the residents certainly have the drive to turn their home into more than just the 'Motor City'.
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