Recap: 6/2018

June’s gathering was at The Chicago Fashion Incubator, and was hosted by Lauren Markt.

The Chicago Fashion Incubator (CFI) at Macy’s provides emerging fashion designers with the resources, business acumen, and mentoring to launch their careers in fashion.

Building on Chicago’s long manufacturing heritage and the City’s internationally acclaimed design schools, the vision is to use the resources and opportunities available in Chicago to help aspiring local fashion designers build sustainable businesses that can compete in the global fashion industry.

The CFI was established in 2008 in a space donated by Macy’s within their State St. store. It has since expanded to include the Richard H. Driehaus Entrepreneurial Center.

Lauren Markt—LWD member and a current CFI designer-in-residence—led us on a tour of the space, and told us about her experience in the program.