It’s the first of its kind in Canada – the newly formed Saskatchewan Fashion Association. SFA President, Mandy Pravda, says there are fashion organizations but this is the first non-profit, member-based fashion association in the country. The seed of the idea began about a decade ago when the former Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival was founded, followed by Saskatchewan Fashion Week. Pravda says the Association is for designers, models, photographers, stylists, boutiques, and all related fields. It will help to find resources for funding, networking opportunities, mentorship, financial planning and business development. Pravda explains it’s a creative industry but you also need to have some business knowledge to stay afloat. The SFA is undertaking a year long analysis of the province’s fashion sector, with support from Creative Saskatchewan. The goal would be to find ways the industry can become eligible for the provincial agency’s grant and funding programs.