Rigsby, Pirozzolo-Mellowes Discuss Origins of Milwaukee Fashion Initiative

Partners Cynthia Rigsby and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes were quoted in a Milwaukee Business Journal article, “Foley & Lardner attorneys help grow fashion industry in Milwaukee,” about the launch of the Milwaukee Fashion Initiative.

The pair said a fundraiser inspired them to think about the obstacles to success fashion designers in Milwaukee face and what assets the Milwaukee market has to offer. “We started putting our heads together about how do we help address some of the challenges and help grow this industry in Milwaukee,” Pirozzolo-Mellowes said.

The two also thought about the growing interest they detected for made-in-America clothing. “With advances in technology, there seems that there are opportunities to make clothing more inexpensively here in the United States,” Rigsby said. “If it’s going to be made somewhere, why not Milwaukee?”

Though Foley has no formal role in the organization, its leaders have given it their blessing, the pair said. “Growth in Milwaukee is good for everybody,” said Pirozzolo-Mellowes.

(Subscription required)