Fashion Focus Chicago

Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's.

Today I attended a press event at Macy’s in the historic Marshall Fields building downtown. The event was held by Fashion Focus Chicago and, among other things, discussed how to make Chicago a major competitor in the fashion world.

The Chicago Fashion Incubator is one such initiative which is supposed to help make this possible.

The Incubator is a project that involves six local designers and gives them the space, means, and direction to become successful at their craft. (If this is sounding strangely like Project Runway, you’re probably not too far off.) Through an exclusive agreement with Macy’s, the designers will have their clothes sold at the store. The entire 7th floor of the Macy’s on State St. has some designs on display.

Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley.

The interesting part of the presentation undoubtedly was the presenters. Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs spearheaded Fashion Focus and cited the desire to bring Chicago to the forefront of the fashion community. (What took them so long?)

Mayor Daley then introduced Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren, who reinforced the importance of retail and his mission to bring America out of economic turmoil through shopping. Nice thought.

But the most exciting part of the whole event was the introduction of Principal Designer for the Fashion Incubator project, Tommy Hilfiger. As a product of the ’90s, I proudly wore his clothes and still harbored some of that same enthusiasm as I saw him speak this afternoon.

He spoke of the changing world of fashion, how none of us know what to expect next–but that he was going to be there to witness it–on the 7th floor of Macy’s, over the course of the project.

Pricipal Designer of the Fashion Incubator, Tommy Hilfiger.

There is no Fashion Week in Chicago per se.. only Fashion Focus. Same concept, different availability of high-end designers.. if any.

I’d argue that’s the unique part of the Chicago Fashion scene. Less pretentious and much more attainable. The fashion show that followed the press event, for instance, displayed designs from local designers that will be featured in the Fashion Focus this Fall.

The designs were nothing earth-shattering: simple, subdued tones, ruffles, new takes on angular designs. Certainly nothing that would encompass the term “haute couture.” They were designs that one could spot just as easily in local boutiques as on women on the street.

Yet that’s the charm of Chicago fashion. The ready-to-wear aspect that is both sensible and economical. That corn-fed, down-home, American style that has been missing a bit from the style scene since my bygone middle school days.

I’m definitely looking forward to what’s next. (Cut below to some additional photos from the event.)

See you at “fashion week”!

-Ileana

A candid of Hilfiger and Daley.

Lundgren and Daley.

Some designs featured in the Fashion Incubator.