Our 38th episode of the Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast Series features Erin Habes, a dedicated fashion and textile technology department lecturer and Runway Faculty Director at Buffalo State University who is passionate about being a catalyst for inclusive fashion in the Buffalo community. 

Erin started her career in New York City, opened her store when she returned to Buffalo, and is well-known for producing large-scale fashion shows such as Runway and Mass Appeal. When appointed adjunct faculty in the fashion program, she learned about the Master's Degree in Creativity and Change Leadership at Buffalo State University, and it was what she was seeking to extend her education. She dedicated ten years to completing the degree and discusses how it continues to help her combine the fashion world and Deliberate Creativity.

Erin has developed many partnerships through her work on fashion shows and often plays the role of facilitating meaningful collaborations between students, alums, and entrepreneurs, ensuring diverse perspectives are heard and celebrated. One great example is her work with Visit Buffalo Niagara Buffalo to showcase her home city's beautiful boutiques, fashion, and shopping. 

Erin describes the creativity she uses in the classroom and how she helps her students and the Buffalo community champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in fashion. Using design thinking and a focus on empathy, she encourages her students to understand that they are responsible for the products that we are making.

Don’t miss this discussion of how Erin used AI to help her students get new ideas to create a collection for this year’s Runway. To bring the Creative Community together, she is hosting an in-person mixer on January 18, at 7 pm, at Twin Petrels Selzer Company (1250 Niagara St, Buffalo, NY 14213). Please join us if you are in the WNY Region. Find our podcast today on all of your favorite platforms.