TORONTO, April 19, 2017 /CNW/ - The Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation, in partnership with Ryerson University, today announced three new Canadian fashion-inspired startups will join the Centre.

"We are pleased to welcome our fourth cohort of entrepreneurs, Authentic or Not, Nudnik and Omi Woods, to the Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation," said Ian Freedman, President, Joe Fresh. "Their unique talent and business propositions will be a great addition to the Centre, and we hope they will benefit meaningfully from the Centre's network of support. We look forward to supporting them in their entrepreneurial pursuits in the year ahead."

"The fourth cohort of innovators showcases not only tech innovation with Authentic or Not's hardware plus Software as a Service business model, but also the product and social innovations of both Nudnik and Omi Woods," said Robert Ott, Co-chair of the Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation. "Together with Joe Fresh, we are working with fashion innovators to provide them with guidance to navigate the Canadian and global entrepreneurial landscapes."

The three new Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovators include:

Nudnik Nudnik, founded by twin sisters Alexandra and Lindsay Larusso, is a unisex kids clothing line (3 months - 3 years) that not only combats the growing global waste problem, but actively seeks to help solve it. With a combined twenty years in the waste management industry, each garment is sourced from upcycled fabrics, hand silk-screened, and cut and sewn locally in Toronto. www.nudniktoronto.com(Open in a new tab)

Authentic or Not Authentic or Not, founded by Ahmer Beg, is a fashion technology company that has created a patented microchip that can be seamlessly embedded into products. With the use of a smartphone customers can hover over such merchandise to confirm product authenticity and receive a customized digital experience instantaneously. www.AuthenticOrNot.com(Open in a new tab)

Omi Woods Omi Woods, founded by Ashley Alexis McFarlane, is a special occasion clothing line that explores and reimagines traditional African prints into timeless silhouettes. The brand embraces ethical low pact production practices, including eco-friendly dyes and zero waste. Omi Woods designers were recently featured in InStyle, Vanity Fair, Essence and E! News. www.omiwoods.com(Open in a new tab)

Exclusive benefits for the Joe Fresh Innovators include:

• Access to collective startup funding up to $50,000 at the end of the program

• Mentorship with Joe Fresh executives, Ryerson academics, and industry advisors

• Networking opportunities with Ryerson Futures, DMZ and Fashion Zone companies

• Access to the DMZ and Fashion Zone at Ryerson University

• Eligible marketing and promotion expenses up to $5,000 per innovator

• Academic Zone Learning credit from Ryerson University following completion of the program

• Unique showcasing opportunities

• Dedicated office space in The Joe Fresh Centre

About Ryerson University Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 41,500 students, including 2,400 master's and PhD students, 3,200 faculty and staff, and nearly 170,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca(Open in a new tab)

About The Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation The Joe Fresh Centre, located in downtown Toronto, is modeled after Ryerson University's highly successful DMZ, Canada's top-ranked university incubator. The mission of The Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation is to accelerate Canadian start-ups in all fashion-related fields, including design, production, technology and professional services. This was made possible with a $1 million grant from Joe Fresh in 2015. For more information, please visit joefreshcentre.com(Open in a new tab)

About Joe Fresh  Essential Style. Exceptional Value. Founded in 2006, Joe Fresh offers accessible, modern design in lifestyle collections for women, men and children. Today one of Canada's leading fashion retailers, Joe Fresh brings a contemporary point of view to everyday wardrobe favourites full of colour, polish and thoughtful details. In categories spanning apparel, accessories, footwear and beauty, Joe Fresh provides quality and style for the entire family. In Canada, Joe Fresh products are available in more than 1,450 retail locations; including over 350 Loblaw locations, 1,100 Shoppers Drugmart locations, 11 freestanding Joe Fresh stores and JoeFresh.com. Joe Fresh is also available internationally through local partners in countries such as Mexico, the Philippines and the United States. For more information, please visit joefresh.com(Open in a new tab) 

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited - Joe Fresh