In its third year, the highly anticipated Next Fashion Chicago added NEXT GENERATION-Fashion Design Challenge to this year’s event. The challenge creates a rare opportunity for young, next generation fashion design students to enter a juried competition. Design students submitted from Chicago’s top design schools, and a group of semi-finalists were selected to create their piece. The semi-finalists were narrowed to ten finalists. Their designs were judged by the panel and the top three designs will be announced on Thursday, October 17 at Next Fashion Chicago.
Winners will receive cash, coveted fabrics and art supplies to help further their education and careers. “This contest gives design students a chance to take their classroom experience and use it in the real world,” said Executive Producer Rose Mandel. “They are in a scenario dealing with tight deadlines, garment production and everyday stresses of the industry; they truly get a taste of the business. Plus, they get the thrill of seeing their very own designs on the runway of a professional fashion show – every designer’s dream.”
The jury included the following of industry professionals:
Corri McFadden and Azeeza Kahn
eDrop-Off founder Corri McFadden was ambitious at a very early age skipping her college graduation to attend Ebay LIVE! Here she found the direction she needed to move forward with her senior project to start her luxury consignment service, eDrop-Off. Celebrating its 9th year in business, eDrop-Off sells over 2,000 items per week and over 350,000 items to date, making them one of the largest luxury consignors in the country. Corri launched CorriMcFadden.com, hosts a weekly fashion segment on WCIU’s “You and Me This Morning” and is a regular contributor on FOX News. She starred in her own reality series on VH1 “House of Consignment” which followed her every day life as an entrepreneur. Corri’s most recent endeavor is her own jewelry line Corri McFadden, a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces made exclusively from vintage materials set to launch in Winter 2013.
Thierry Rogers, Jenna Jones
Originally from France, Thierry Roger studied fashion and art at L’ecole des Beaux Arts de Tours. While in Paris, Mr. Roger continued his study of fashion and later worked for the House of Guy Laroche. In 1990 he moved to Chicago and made his fashion mark quickly, designing a line of couture eveningwear for Henri Bendel. His line of hand painted silk scarves were featured in the Chicago Tribune Style section and carried by Chicago’s finest boutiques. In 2003 Roger opened Collection Privée, a boutique specializing in his ready-to-wear and custom-made fashions. In January of ’09, Mr. Roger closed the retail part of his business to focus exclusively on his well established clientele.He has a small atelier located in Chicago’s Lakeview area where he creates exclusively create one-of-a-kind pieces custom-tailored in the tradition of French Couture. Not only is he an accomplished couturier, he is also a gifted artist.
Brian Urlacher, Margaret O’Connor in Mark Roscoe Design
Margaret J. O’Connor is the founder/owner of MarCon Communications, a Chicago-based public relations consultancy integrating publicity, promotions and special events which helps clients build their personal, professional and business brand. Margaret, who was educated in Africa, Australia and America, worked as a runway and catalogue model and co-founded a finishing and modeling school with former Miss USA, Karen Morrison, in the early eighties. She produced spring and fall fashion shows for malls across Illinois and for charity events, served as a judge for several pageants and appeared as a frequent guest on the show “Something of Interest,” talking fashion, travel and lifestyle. After graduating from the University of Illinois with degrees in marketing and finance, she founded her present company and works with a diverse clientele across industry lines. She is also a freelance writer and contributor to publications and online blogs and magazines.
Larisa Kronfeld, Diala Joseph
Diala Joseph is a Chicago patroness well-known for her sense of style. Originally from Syria, she was educated in both Syria and the United States throughout her childhood while her father served in the diplomatic corps. She holds a degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Chicago. Her vibrant, yet classical sense of style is a reflection of traveling the world throughout her life.She supports young, upcoming fashion designers by organizing and hosting fashion shows and social events that showcase their work. Diala actively works to raise the profile and visibility of emerging Middle Eastern designers through introduction to press and upscale botiques. She is involved in several local charities and is also one of the founders and a board member of the non-profit group, Assyrian Humanitarian Aid which raises money for Christian Assyrians currently living in Syria.
Mark Roscoe, Bai Ling in Mark Roscoe Design
Mark Roscoe, founder of Mark Roscoe Design, has been in the fashion industry for over 30 years, first as a model, then as is a fashion designer. What started as a custom, hand-made neckwear line soon evolved into a design company focused on creating fine women’s couture. The label unveiled its latest collection during New York City’s Fashion Week at Emerge! one of the most prestigious platforms for showcasing top emerging fashion designers. The women’s couture collection and the men’s neckwear line have appeared at the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, the Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards, Fusion de Filantropia & Fashion Show in Georgetown, DC., StyleChicago.com’s The Art of Fashion, the Mrs. America Pageant and more. Mark is also a successful, practicing attorney specializing in mediation law. In late September, Mark flew to LA for a photo shoot with Chinese American actress, Bai Ling, that will appear in LA Splash magazine.
Barbara Samuels’ career began at Sears Roebuck and Company in the 1960’s as a copywriter for the Sears & Roebuck Catalog. She worked her way up the ladder to become the national buyer of casual footwear. In 1998, she was named global “Buyer of the Year.” She served as fashion editor for N’Digo magazine and was a wardrobe and set design consultant for public television’s America’s Family Kitchen She serves as board member or officer of several fashion-related entities, including Fashion Group International, the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. of Illinois, GenArt, The Color of Fashion, the Leaguers of the Chicago Urban League and the Costume Committee of the Chicago Historical Society.
Hector and Javier Monarrez with Pilar Saiki
Educated in South America, Europe and United States, Pilar Saiki is a fashion designer and consultant and teaches fashion merchandising at Harper College as a member of the Adjunct Faculty. Prior to Harper, she taught at the International Academy of Design and Technology, Chicago. She has taught fashion courses for the past 20 years and is well-known for her support and encouragement of fashion design students and emerging fashion designers. Pilar organizes fashion trips to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco and other countries. The trips were first offered as a class for senior fashion design and merchandising students and are now open to everyone.
Richard Schneider is the president and owner of Supreme Novelty Fabrics one of the largest privately owned fabric and notion store in Chicago. He worked alongside his mother before taking over the business which was started by his grandfather. The store has been in operation for over 80 years and carries a variety of both contemporary and vintage products. Richard travels the world to find fabric and notions for the store. Several years ago he launched a home interior fabrics line as complement the existing fashion and bridal fabrics lines.
Deborah Goodman, Kimberly Jones
Deborah D. Goodman been a business woman in the fashion industry and a trendsetter in Chicago for more than three decades. She is the CEO of In-Yourstyle which offers a full range of services such as personal shopping, wardrobe styling and image consulting. She is a personal stylist for a number of media personalities, professionals, and other clients worldwide and is involved in the creative management of fashion and decorating elements for corporate and social events both large and small. Deborah is a sought after model for charity runway events. She often travels abroad to explore fashions perspective across the globe, always returning full of ideas for her clientele.
Stephanie Ryanin, Farley Le
An emerging Chicago-based designer, Fraley Le, creates signature pieces for women ranging from casual events to weddings. Fraley Le is a recent graduate of International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago. He was awarded the top prize at the Lubeznik Center Rock the Runway Over-the-Top Event, which included a behind-the-scenes tour at FIT in New York and a storefront display in downtown Chicago. Since his graduation Le’s designs have been showcased in numerous fashion shows around the City.
NEXT Fashion Chicago will be held at Germania Place, located in the Gold Coast, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The show produced by Mandel Productions is in association with Executive Producer Rose Mandel of Mandel Productions and Associate Producer Marco Foster and features the City’s best emerging and established designers in one extraordinary fashion show. Co-hosted by Alicia Roman and Daniella Guzman of NBC-5 Chicago, it includes the following distinguished designer and boutique roster: Tamra Ellingson, St. Frimpong, Elena Bobysheva, Sarah Church, Gary Gonzalez, Niala Conte, Meekis, Mira Couture, Cleons Clothing Co. and Bottega Contessa. by: Corri McFadden, Founder/Owner of Edrop-off Luxury Consignment will present a special fashion award. CS Modern Luxury is the exclusive media sponsor.
NEXT Fashion Chicago
Check out all the great ticket options for NEXT Fashion Chicago! Use Promo Code – catwalk – to save an additional $10 on select tickets. For purchases and more information visit nextfashionchicago-3.eventbrite.com.
Next Fashion Chicago is held during Fashion Focus Chicago which is a week-long fashion extravaganza operated by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Now in its ninth year, the celebration is a city-wide happening with numerous fashion events, runway shows, shopping incentives, panel discussions and more highlighting Chicago’s vibrant fashion industry’s top fashion talent.