With Nashville Fashion Week just around the corner — check out the schedule of events here — Abby White takes a good look in this week's Scene at how realistic it is for Music City to build a sustainable identity as a regional center for the fashion business. A lot of talent is already here, but when it comes to funding sources and the capacity to actually crank out clothing, we have a ways to go.

Cole says the supply for the industry is here, should the demand be fully realized. "I see a lot of energy in fashion, design — particularly for product and set design — and people relocating and freelancing here, and creating their own industries," she says. "The talent pool is here."

The infrastructure, however, is not. And for a handful of Nashville designers, the demand has been realized — to the point that it has outstripped their ability to produce domestically. An important piece of the puzzle, then, if a fashion industry is to flourish here, is manufacturing.

Gibson and Nissan have combined to create the Gibson NV200 Mobile Repair & Restoration Van. The van acts as a mobile guitar repair shop, serving major music festivals, concerts, recording studios and private homes.

 

"The NV200 Compact Cargo van's small footprint makes it ideal for maneuvering in tight places, which is perfect for both urban music venues and crowded outdoor concerts where space is at a premium," said Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz . "The large cargo bay with standard integrated mounting points and available cargo hooks help make the vehicle configurable and customizable to suit the needs of a working guitar technician."

Class-leading combined fuel economy of 24 mpg*, provided by a 131-horsepower 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine matched with an efficient Xtronic CVT^® transmission, further increases the road-worthy appeal of a vehicle that can log as many miles as the typical touring band.

"The Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo van is perfect for small businesses, entrepreneurs and dreamers," said Joe Castelli , vice president, Commercial Vehicles and Fleet, Nissan North America. "By partnering with Gibson on the NV200 Mobile Repair & Restoration Van, we're showing the ultimate expression of what can be done with this vehicle for those with a viable business concept, a little creativity and with a starting price of $19,990**, an appreciation of great value. As this is a van meant for trades, vocations and working people, we couldn't be more excited than to see it put to good use in the hands of some of the most skilled craftsmen in the world."

The Gibson NV200 Mobile Repair & Restoration Van, built by Nissan, is an extension of both Gibson Pro Audio and Gibson's fabled Repair & Restoration shop, based in Nashville, Tenn. This facility is where the best and brightest guitar builders go to ply their craft for one of the oldest and most-respected guitar companies.

The Black Abbey Brewing Company will locate its production facility and tasting room to a building located at 2952 Sidco Drive in South Nashville.

Lease terms of the structure, last home to Southern Library Bindery Co., are not being disclosed.

Carl Meier, founder of the Nashville-based craft brewing company, said the 11,000-square-foot facility will include brewing equipment as well as a tasting room that will serve as a retail outlet for beer and other merchandise. Construction is expected to begin this week, with production slated to start in the third quarter of 2013.

The tasting room should be open shortly thereafter, he said.

“We have a portfolio of unique and delicious beer that we are excited to deliver to the Greater Nashville market,” Meier said in a release.

The Black Abbey Brewing Company is being backed by a group of primarily local unnamed investors. Its tagline is “Created. Not Made.”

Meier said The Black Abbey brand is “thoughtfully influenced” by the story of Martin Luther, father of the protestant reformation. The company will craft Belgian-inspired ales (one of which is seen here in a photo courtesy of Doug Brumley) that are “creative, accessible and unique," relying on 600 years of brewing tradition and starting with styles that Luther himself might have enjoyed.

“Luther and his wife brewed beer for the community surrounding Wittenberg Germany, creating an opportunity for fellowship around good conversation and great beer,” Meier said. “We love the idea of bringing people together and promoting community through common interests. We want our tasting room to become a ‘Fellowship Hall’ — a place where people can get to know one another, and get to know us and our personable beers.”

Paul Cheng is a fan.

The Barclays Capital analyst on Friday bumped his price target for shares of Delek US Holdings to $52 from $47. He made the move on the heels of word that a stock sale by Delek US' largest shareholder could grow to more than $400 million — and just days after he raised his target from $40. Delek (Ticker: DK) ended the week at $39 and change and are up 55 percent so far in 2013.

Nissan is recalling five 2013 models in the United States due to a faulty sensor that can permanently de-power the front-seat passenger air bag. The recall covers the Altima, the Infiniti JX35 SUV, the Leaf electric car, the Pathfinder SUV and the Sentra. Read more here.