There is a certain storefront on Orchard Street that exudes a certain cool, cutting-edge vision of fashion. But of course, like any inanimate object, the storefront can't fully convey the excitement within. When you walk by Forward at 72 Orchard Street, the cool exterior is only a front for the heat generated by this 'incubator' for young fashion designers.

Started in 2001 by the Lower East Side Business Improvement District, Forward offers six-month residencies to four up-and-coming designers to show their original creations. The designers are chosen by a committee of fashion mavens, who look for fresh ideas that deserve to be seen by the public. Once selected, the designers take part in an eighteen-week entrepreneurial course to learn business skills. After "graduation", each is given a quarter of the space in the 1000 square foot store.

Each designer is required to put in two days of work at the store and, very often, the person behind the counter has actually made the clothing on the racks. This sort of direct contact with the public is unusual for many young designers. It allows Forward's "residents" an opportunity to hone their skills in marketing and selling their clothes to consumers. A store, showroom and workshop, Forward is well worth frequent visits as the product and styles change every six months as the residents change.

Take the Tenement Museum's Piecing It Together tour for an understanding of the history or the garment business, and then visit Forward for a vision of the future.