Chicago Fashion Incubator, photoshoot in the middle of State Street/Photo: Jennee Johnson, 2021
There’s often a certain dismay in the words of those describing the state of Chicago’s local fashion scene, but fortunately there’s hope—in great part thanks to the Chicago Fashion Incubator (CFI), a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring local designers with a business and a vision. Executive director Anna Hovet Dias explains how they do it.
Chicago Fashion Incubator, photoshoot in the middle of State Street/Photo: Jennee Johnson, 2021
What’s going on at the CFI?
We have six designers-in-residence who are either growing their existing fashion lines or getting ready to launch their businesses. Our fall schedule is focused on exploration and new connections, filled with field trips to local museums and manufacturers. The designers are creating samples for Spring-Summer 2023 collections and getting ready for holiday sales.
What are some of the highlights in the CFI’s history?
In 2017, CFI launched the Driehaus Entrepreneurial Center, thanks to generous funding from the Driehaus Design Initiative. The Driehaus Entrepreneurial Center is a resource center that provides Chicago-based apparel and accessories designers with educational tools, research assets and programming that will help to further their fashion business growth and development. We have many success stories from our designers: CFI alum Shavonne Dorsey is selling her garments on HSN. CFI alum Alissa Bertrand was featured in Vogue’s “The United States of Fashion” book. Several CFI designers have been featured on “Project Runway, “including Rakan Shams Aldeen, Kahindo Mateene and Katelyn Pankoke.
Chicago Fashion Incubator, photoshoot in the middle of State Street/Photo: Jennee Johnson, 2021
What are some of your upcoming events?
In December CFI, is teaming up with the local chapter of Fashion Group International to host a behind-the-scenes tour of Macy’s window displays and a social hour at CFI. Current designer-in-residence Pam Kendall is hosting a pop-up shop called cloth + home in Evanston for the holidays opening November 10.
What does the CFI offer to their designers-in-residence?
CFI offers the designers-in-residence access to education, mentors, manufacturers and physical space to help them launch or grow their fashion lines. Our current designers-in-residence and alumni designers are continuously involved in shopping events, fashion shows and other community events, which we promote through our social media. Local fashion designer Jamie Hayes, designer of Production Mode, recently joined the program as our design mentor. She meets with the designers one-on-one to help them navigate the design process and brainstorm sales outlets.
Chicago Fashion Incubator, photoshoot in the middle of State Street/Photo: Jennee Johnson, 2021
How can local designers take advantage of what the CFI has to offer?
We occasionally have public events and panels, but our focus is on our small group of designers-in-residence. Local designers can apply to our program anytime through our website. We bring on new designers every quarter. Applications are open for a January 1, 2023 start date. Designers must have had an established fashion business for at least one year and neither current fashion design students nor wholesalers are eligible. Designers must have proof of sales and a clear brand vision.
Journalist Isa Giallorenzo was born in São Paulo, Brazil and has elected Chicago as her beloved home since 2009. She runs the street-style blog Chicago Looks and wants to see this town become one of the fashion capitals of the world.
