On Mar 7, 2012 Chicago Fashion Foundation hosted its 5th annual Future of Chicago event, titled “Street Style: Chicago Fashion through Chicago Communities”. At the Chicago Cultural Center 10 student designers have competed for the scholarship award.
As a fashion student you get slammed with all kinds of expenses – tuition fees, cost of books, various materials for school projects, including fabric and sewing supplies, just to name a few. This is where Chicago Fashion Foundation comes in.
Chicago Fashion Foundation, a non-profit organization, provides academic scholarships to Chicago-area college students majoring in fashion related studies. CFF also holds networking events and educational seminars with acclaimed industry professionals panel of speakers.
Chicago Fashion Foundation’s annual “Future of Chicago Fashion” competition. is open to students enrolled in full time fashion design, merchandising, and marketing programs in Chicagoland area. Their work will be displayed in front of and judged by fashion industry professionals. The ultimate benefit is winning an academic scholarship worth $5,000, $1,000 and $500 for first, second and third place respectively.
During the two phase selection process students applications and storyboards are reviewed. Selected finalists went to the second phase of competing at the Annual Scholarship Event held on Mar 7. They were required to produce the complete look presented on the submitted storyboards. The look must be comprised of a minimum of two garments: a combination of a dress, jacket, pants, skirt etc. The designs could be for any season and gender.
Each year the CFF Board selects a new theme for the competition. And this year it was “Street Style”. Applicants were asked to design a look inspired by one of the neighborhoods of Chicago or area. Ten different looks graced the runway, taking inspiration from 10 different neighborhoods:
Elena Bobysheva, Columbia College, “Ukranian Village”; Michele Castellano, SAIC, “Hyde Park”; Crystle Crubaugh, SAIC, “Logan Square”; Kara Fenoglietto, SAIC, “Maxwell Street”; Elaine Hoang, SAIC, “Chinatown”; Kendel Kennedy, SAIC, “Urban Decay”; Elizabeth Leukuma, IIA, “Rogers Park”; Raven Norman, IIA, “Beverly”; Stacie Randall, IIA “Andersonville”; Tosha Sherman, SAIC, “Influence of the ‘L'”
This year’s competition was judged by Candace Jordan, Candid Candace, Peach Carr, the “Project Runway” contestant, Andrea Schwartz, Vice President of Media Relations at Macy’s, Erikka Wang, from Akira, Catie Keogh, host of NBC 24/7 and Diego Rocha, the “Project Accessory” designer.
The winners of the first, second and third place were Elena Bobysheva, Michelle Castellano and Raven Norman respectively.
Following the show, former finalists Vanessa Lambert and LaTonya Williams previewed their looks and and Peach Carr debuted her newest collection.
Media crew:
Video Reporter – Raven Mai
Event Video – Matt Mantyla, CrowdAround Media
