The Brush Factory: Well Groomed

Kovacs is a Cincinnati native and self-proclaimed lover of the Ohio Valley. After completing co-ops on both the East and West coasts, she realized that Cincinnati truly had a lot to offer and was the perfect place to easily meet her goals by collaborating with other creative individuals.

With an economy that’s been going down the drain and an unsettling loss of consumer confidence, she couldn’t have picked a better time to try to come together with others to boost creativity, inspiration and overall morale in the community.

As a firm believer in using each other’s knowledge to work toward the greater good, also known as the “open source movement,” Kovacs has been involved in several other collaborative projects and efforts for local artists, such as this past spring’s collaborative GRASS event in Corryville.

Kovacs notes the strictly black-and-white options of shopping in Cincinnati, with its handfuls of high end places and some lower-priced stores, including thrift stores and outlets. The Brush Factory will serve as the grey area by offering thoughtful and unique pieces that are well worth their price tag.

By offering unique quality designs, shopping at The Brush Factory will give back to the community in several different ways. It will be a place to support the incredibly imaginative community of Cincinnati and encourage high quality and inspired goods, as well as promote higher expectations and work ethics. Shopping in Brighton will also improve centralization and socialization of the recently revitalized downtown area. Also, if you bring your alterations into the store, proceeds will be donated to local charity funds.

Fit for Like is one charity the Factory plans to temporarily contribute to, an organization that helps to raise money for underprivileged women entering the workforce and works directly with downtown’s 4th Street Boutique. The Brush Factory also offers a unique perspective to customers by encouraging them to tour the studio so they can not only see but also appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating a single garment.

The studio will be open to designers for a low rate and a one-day-per-week commitment to working in the store. Approved designers will also have the opportunity to simply rent retail space in the Factory to sell their collections. The fees include space per square footage, online sales and the designer’s right to merchandise his or her line within a positive place that will incubate their growing line.

Local designer and DAAP student Andrea Sisson will be one of those showcasing her lines at The Brush Factory. Currently wrapping up a co-op in Iceland, Sisson says that her collection for The Brush Factory uses that country as a source of inspiration by using Icelandic wools and patterns in menswear, unisex wear and various accessories such as book bags.

Other designers who are planning on contributing to The Factory are Lynda Lucas, Chris Kittrell, Brittany Rose (Poncho Rose), Jennifer Sult and Lacey Voss. Kovacs also plans to carry other independent designers from the Midwest and various premium labels in the future.

Scheduled to open sometime before the end of the year, The Brush Factory has already garnered quite a bit of attention, recently earning an honorable mention from The Uniform Project, an online year-long sustainable clothing and fundraising initiative for the Akanksha Foundation.

The Brush Factory will host a grand opening party toward the end of October in its large and nostalgic interior. It’s far past due for Cincinnati to have something as creative and innovative as this community-supportive, inspirational powerhouse.