Incubators Aren't Only for Tech Startups Today's incubators are diverse and community-based. Here's a look at the breadth of options available in fashion, food and other physical-product sectors.

In Philadelphia, what is old is becoming new again, thanks to a 2-year-old incubator that seeks to restore the city's luster in the fashion trade. The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator at Macy's Center City aims to recapture the city's nearly forgotten history with yearlong residencies for designers focused on breaking into the market and staying there.

"Philadelphia has an outdated and old-fashioned image, and [this] is part of a strategy to up our credibility in fashion and retail," says Michelle Shannon, vice president of marketing and communications at Center City District, the business development corporation that's a partner in the venture. "You could say it's a little bit of glitz and glamour, but we have a rich history of fashion in this city, and I think people forget about that."

Fashioning a new incubator