You don’t think of St. Louis as a player in the fashion industry? Well, think again.

As the hometown of supermodel Devon Windsor (did you catch her on SL’s cover?), St. Louis’ roots in the fashion industry are already pretty strong. With Stars Design Group’s acquisition of New York City based apparel brand INSPR,  the presence of the fashion industry here in St. Louis only grows. Made up of a community of influencers, INSPR “will empower hundreds of new fashion brands to tell their story and share their creative vision, both through e-commerce and real-world experiences,” says President Chantal Waterbury. Does the concept of a community of influencers sound a little too Gen Z? Maybe it’s right on brand for you? Either way, the excitement INSPR will bring to Stars Design and the fashion scene in St. Louis is palpable.

Stars Design Group will oversee manufacturing, brand development, marketing services, e-commerce and expansion into brick and mortar for their community of influencers. This allows every collection to be unique and authentic to the person who designed it, giving it a personal touch for the consumer. This acquisition truly is, as Waterbury says, the “incubation for a new generation.”

Who made it all happen? The deal is a partnership with Steve Smith, CEO of the Lawrence Group, and Will Smith, Managing Director of Investments and Asset Management at real estate development company, New + Found. Will Smith will take on the role of Treasurer in the new company; Steve Smith is a Board Advisor. Emily Lane will become the new COO and Bret Schnitker is the new CEO.

With the pillars of individuality, community, and creation at its core, INSPR looks toward the future of fashion and design on a global scale. Locally, Stars Design Group’s acquisition will advance the presence of the growing fashion industry here in St. Louis. INSPR will re-launch in the fall of 2021 with new limited edition influencer collections that will be sold through the INSPR website.

Follow INSPR on Instagram to never miss a collection drop: @insprny.

Always be on trend with your own subscription to SL’s magazine, newsletter or both:https://www.sophisticatedstlouis.com/mag/subscribe.