Happy Holidays from the Chicago Fashion Incubator

From our Chicago Fashion Incubator family to yours!

Pictured from Left to Right: Jane Hamill, Brooke Conrady, Christina Monley, 

LaTonya Williams, Rachel Frank, Sarah Church, Lagi Nadeau, Amy Olson, and Julia Tiedt

Special Thanks to Michelle Wodzinski Photography & Film for taking our holiday picture!

Do you want to be a CFI Designer in Residence?

Applications due in ONE WEEK!!

Download the application now. 

Here are the type of applicants we are looking for:

• Designers with 1 - 2 years of experience in the Industry
• Someone who wants the support of a community of designers
• A desire to learn the business side of things from Mentors who have "been there before"
• A willingness to commit and drive to commit to a year of programming 

If that sounds like you, then c'mon!! Get your application in by Tuesday, November 27th by 5:00pm. If that sounds like someone you know, then forward the information to them.

If you'd like a peek into what it's like to be a Designer in Residence at the Chicago Fashion Incubator? Watch this video from Glossed and Found!

Go here to download the application.

Questions about the Program? Email Julia at julia@chicagofashionincubator.org

Chicago Fashion Incubator runway show at Fashion Focus

 

The designers of the Chicago Fashion Incubator presented by Macy's show was an incredible success and we're so happy to have shared such an amazing experience with all those present!

The rain was relentless and the winds were wicked that night but that didn't stop us from having a packed house and a rockin' show!

The evening was a wonderful culmination of our designers' hard work and talent and we're so proud of each and every one of them. Thank you to everyone who attended the event, we really appreciate your support! 

If you missed it, below are links to the press and media coverage for The Designers of the Chicago Fashion Incubator Presented by Macy's show. Take a look at some of the incredible coverage!

Glossed and Found - (VIDEO) See the awesome video that started the show!

NBC Chicago

Chicago Sun Times

Chicago Sun Times Splash

Time Out Chicago

Fashion Files Magazine

Your Trendy Magazine

Racked Chicago

Second City Style 

Chicago Shopping 

Gapers Block

Now You Know

A special thank you to our sponsors for which this event would not be possible without!

Macy's

CS Magazine

Ford Models Chicago

Mario Tricoci

Frost Lighting

Uber
VeeV VitaFrute
Frost Lighting
Kind Bars
H.Bloom

Lake Media Printers

CFI Workshop September 18! Starting a Fashion Business

Are You a Start-Up? We have a workshop for you!

"How to Build Your Fashion Business From the Ground Up"

The workshop will be held at CFI and is open to the public. 

What: "How to build your fashion business from the ground up"

When: Tuesday, September 18th, 8:30 am

Where: Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's on State Street, 11th floor

Why: We want to meet YOU - the fashion community of Chicago

Presenter: Jane Hamill 
Who: This workshop is open to the public. All are welcome!

Cost: $15.00

What You'll Learn: 

• How to turn your ideas into a viable business
• What business licenses you need and how to get them
• How to research your product niche, customer, and competition
• How to get your samples made
• How many pieces should be in your line 

We'll have plenty of hot coffee and bagels on hand! Jane's presentation will go from 8:30 - 9:30, then Q and A from 9:30 - 10 am. Come ready to learn and armed with questions!

Register Now!

Want to invite some friends? Send them here: http://cfiseminar.eventbrite.com/

Want to connect?

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

2013/2014 Application Open House

Hello Designers!!

Today is the Day! This evening from 5:00-7:00pm, the Chicago Fashion Incubator will be hosting an Open House for designers interested in our 2013/2014 Designers in Residence Program!  The 2013/2014 Application will also become available on our website (www.chicagofashionincubator.org)!

If you are interested in attending our open house tonight, here are directions on how to get to us once inside Macy's on State:

We are located at Macy's on State Street, on the 11th floor.
Enter through the State and Randolph St. entrances. When you enter Macy's you will be in women's handbags.
 Walk South past the COACH counter and then past the TOUS counter.

In between the TOUS and LINKS OF LONDON counters is the hallway to the associate elevators.
 The elevators are green carpeted with linoleum flooring.
Take these elevators to the 11th floor.
 If you have entered into cream marble elevators, those only head to 7 and you went into the hallway between COACH and TOUS rather than TOUS and LINKS.
Exit those elevators at 1, walk a little further South to go to the elevator hallway located between TOUS and LINKS.

Upon arriving at the 11th floor lobby, there will be an Incubator Employee to greet you and direct you to our location.

Please feel free to call with any questions you may have: 312-781-5039.  We look forward to seeing you tonight!

 Take a look at CFI alumni Nora Del Busto's F/W 2012 collection shot by Billy Rood!

CFI alumni Kristin Hassan will be changing her company name in 2013. With her new rebranding effort, is "aiming to build a bigger, bolder, and stronger organization." But while it's easy to get distracted by Hassan's new career move, it's not easy to overlook her stunning new jewelry collections in her Passport to Style World Tour such as the Mazagaon Stud Wrap that was recently featured in "My Highest Self." With all that we've been seeing from KH, we're sure that Hassan's rebranding efforts will only enhance her collection. 

Mazageon Stud Wrap

A BIG congrats to our Designer in Residence alumni Taneasha Prunty of GIDI for being selected to be featured in New York City Fashion Week EMERGE! 

"Taneasha along with five other designers: Berny Martin, India de Beaufort,Arefeh Mansouri and Franklin Rowe all selected out of hundreds of submissions from around the world will be showcasing their Spring 2013 Fashion Collections at EMERGE! For New York City Fashion Week." -Chicagonow

Alumni News! 

Take a look at C/FAN fashion designer and DIR alumni Christina Fan's shout out about her move back to China!

Additionally, Shavonne Dorsey was spotlighted on Chic and Curvy for her work. Take a look at the interview questions and looks from our fabulous alumni!

Designer Spotlight

The DIRs meet Maria Pinto!

Maria Pinto, renown fashion designer, who has designed clothes for Oprah, and the current first lady, and the Joffrey Ballet, visited the Chicago Fashion Incubator on Wednesday July 25th to meet with the Designers in Residence! She spent two hours at the Incubator, talking to the designers about her experience in the industry and dispensing advice.  "Do what you love, money will come" advised Pinto. She talked about perfection of production and her "less is more" strategy of "staying small and well edited." The designers also got to hear about her upcoming exhibit at the Field Museum. Lastly, she took a look at each designer's collection and advised. It was time well spent and advice well received. CFI thanks Maria Pinto!

Alumni Update
630 Fashion Show to feature Kahindo Mateene

      "This year’s event, a benefit for 360 Youth Services, will showcase celebrity designer Kahindo Mateene, 2011 designer in residence in the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s on State Street."

Shout out to current Designer in Residence LaTonya Williams! 

"RISING DESIGNER: Elizabeth Smith Fashionsby LaTonya Williams. Elizabeth Smith Fashions is a label produced by LaTonya Williams. Current a Chicago Fashion Incubator Designer, this rising star is making waves with her new innovative white blouses. This out-of-the-box designer is REINVENTINGthe way women today wear that traditional white blouse. Keep an eye open because before you know it the name Elizabeth Smith Fashions will be a household name."  -- see the full article at Chicagonow

Alumni Advice
Having trouble dressing for the heat? Take a peek at Kate Coxworth, founder and fashion designer of the label Kate Boggiano, and CFI Designer In Residence alumni's redeye dress tips! 

DIR Alumni News

Check out DIR alumni Anna Hovet's Effen Vodka bottle inspired dress! 

Source: Fashionista Chicago

Designer Spotlight

News

The Chicago Sidewalk Sale at Daley plaza featured CFI Designers in Residence past and present, Brooke Conrady, Agga Raya, Anna Hovet, Kahindo Mateene, Miriam Carlson, and Kate Coxworth. At noon today, the sale held a fashion show, where CFI was announced as a headliner for Chicago's Fashion Focus 2012. 

 Brooke Conrady’s piece in the show 

The DIR 2012 crew

Alumni News
Former CFI designer Anna Hovet's ROOF Runway show was a huge success! If you missed it, take a look here! 

Click on the photo to look at more photos of the show via Flickr photostream

Check out our fabulous 2012 Designers in Residence! 

Alumni News
Refinery 29 recently covered a DIR alum, Christina Fan's  new spring/summer collection for C/FAN. Christina launched C/FAN in 2008, before coming to the Incubator in 2010. The article, "C/FAN's Spring Line Gives the Kaleidoscope A Run For Its Money," accurately captured Christina's striking play of color and light.


"Designer Christina Fan looked to the South American Quechua dialect, particularly their word "k'anchaypacha," to guide her creative vision for her spring/summer collection. The definition: light is a dynamic element with its own life force. The interpretation: Rainbow Brite designs that definitely take on a life of their own on flowing caftans, frocks, and tunics"


Yet the collection truly needs no explanation, for the pieces speak for themselves. Read the article and take a look at the new collection here!

New DIR 2012

Chicago Fashion Incubator is pleased to introduce its two new Designers In Residence!

Christina Monley

Christina Monley, designer for Christina Karin, is a BU graduate in business and art history and has studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Chicago. Christina Karin is a modern women’s dress label.  The company is a luxury lifestyle brand defined by classic American glamour, edgy sophistication, and attainable price point. The brand strives to make women shine through exceptional product, design, and its commitment to unrivaled customer service.  All merchandise is produced domestically in the USA. A portion of all sales go toward various charity initiatives to help women and children around the world lead safer lives with greater opportunities to thrive. 

Pictured center, Christina Monley

Lagilelei Nadeau

Lagilelei was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York and Michigan State University for fashion design. While attending FIT, she interned with Nicole Romano, later working as an assistant fashion designer at Tahari and then Ammara. In 2010, she launched the Lagi Nadeau jewelry collection which has been featured in Marie Claire, Sugarlaws, and has accessorized fashion collections such as Kay Unger and Phoebe Couture. Lagi Nadeau label will expand into an inaugural womenswear line with the launch of her Spring 2013 collection. Nadeau is a strong proponent of American made products and makes each piece in the US. 

Lagi Nadeau Spring Preview Sketch

CFI Welcomes Our 5th Class of Designers In Residence

Join us in welcoming our 2012 DIRs.  We are excited for the year ahead!

Sarah Church
Sarah Church’s fashion career began in Ohio in 1999, when her custom garments were featured in boutiques that catered to many subcultures. In 2000, Church moved to Chicago to attend the Illinois Institute of Art Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. In 2009, she designed custom tour outfits for bands such as Janus and Heart Set Self Destruct, while creating a women’s collection on the side. Sarah started www.churchxoxo.com in 2011, which features several different collections, including her custom designs and ready-to-wear as well as vintage pieces.

Brooke Conrady
Brooke Conrady moved from Kansas to Chicago to get her degree in Fashion Design from The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago. Upon graduation, she worked with a local clothing designer for several years and decided it was time to branch off and create her own line, blank nation, a contemporary women's ready-to-wear clothing line. Conrady’s pieces are easy to wear, knit dresses that work for various body types. Her main focus is utilizing fashion and creativity to give back to the communities who are supporting her business. She chooses a new charity each month and donates a percentage of sales to help those in need. Blank Nation Website

Britney Devaris
Britney Devaris studied fashion design and merchandising at Dominican University. Her ready-to-wear collection is innovative, trendy and eye-catching due to her manipulation of fabrics which allows her to be very technical on the inside but still very functional on the outside.

Rachel Frank
A graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Fashion Design Program, Frank has always had a flair for the dramatic. Her work is constantly changing, along with her inspiration, but always contains an aesthetic of detailed juxtaposition. From silk and leather, to lace and chains, Rachel Frank’s evening avant-garde apparel is not for the meek, but is intended for the bold, dramatic woman. RFD by Rachel Frank Website

LaTonya Williams
LaTonya Williams attended Tennessee State University and earned a degree in mathematics and worked for over a decade in the IT field. In 2007, Williams moved to Chicago and enrolled in the fashion program at the International Academy of Design Technology. In 2010, she was the second runner-up in Kenmore's So You Wanna Be A Designer reality show. Williams’ latest venture is a women's clothing line of white blouses known as Elizabeth Smith fashions. Elizabeth Smith Website