With a passion for the fashion community, the TFI is a unique, vibrant organization dedicated to supporting and nurturing Canadian fashion designers. The first official "fashion incubator" in the world, the TFI was incorporated in 1987 and debuted in 1988 as the Toronto Centre for the Promotion of Fashion Design.

It all started in 1986, when the fashion industry was the second largest industrial employer in the City of Toronto. The Fashion Industry Liaison Committee (FILC), a volunteer industry organization supported by the City of Toronto's Economic Development Division, proposed that a fashion incubator could stimulate business growth and ensure vitality in the industry, which would translate into job growth and new business development. A year (and a lot of hard work) later, the TFI was born and ready to inject excitement and energy into an already vibrant fashion community.

Start-up funding, in the form of a two-year grant, was provided by the Federal Innovations Program of Employment and Immigration Canada. In December 1989, the centre was granted official "incubator" status through an Order-in-Council of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.  In February 1990, an operating grant and some administrative support was provided by TEDCO (The City of Toronto Economic Development Corporation) through its Business Incubation program. Since then, TEDCO has continued its generosity by providing the TFI with a yearly grant. Through corporate sponsorships, fundraising, workshops, consulting, membership fees, rental fees for studio space, equipment and facilities we are able to generate additional revenues.

For over two decades, our success in nurturing and developing innovative talent while encouraging small business growth has created an entrepreneurial culture that is envied around the globe. Cities like London, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Auckland and Dunedin have looked to Toronto's Fashion Incubator as a model of innovation, excellence and leadership.