Chicago Fashion Organizations

Apparel Industry Board, Inc.

The Apparel Industry Board Inc. is the only agency of the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development dedicated to the needs of the apparel, fashion and sewn products industry. The Apparel Industry Board is comprised of industry leaders and professionals whose careers and business expertise span all facets of apparel and sewn-products. These areas include: design, manufacturing, merchandising, sales, retail, marketing and finance.

Chicago Fashion Foundation

The Chicago Fashion Foundation is made up of Chicago’s who’s who in the Chicago fashion industry from designers to manufacturers, stylists to buyers, and writers to editors. The Foundation promotes all fashion events in the city and works to bring Chicago to the forefront of the fashion industry.

Chicago Fashion Incubator

The Chicago Fashion Incubator (CFI) at Macy’s on State Street provides six (6) emerging Chicago-based designers with the resources, including workspace, education about the business of fashion and mentoring, to launch their careers in fashion. The Designers in Residence (DIR) are provided office space, including computers and software; a workshop room with sample production space and a resource section; as well as a showroom. DIR are required to complete a core curriculum of workshops and seminars conducted at the Incubator location at Macy’s on State Street for the duration of a one year period starting in March 2008.

CFI is part of the Mayor’s Fashion Initiative, which supports and promotes fashion designers living and working in Chicago through events, seminars, and city programs.

Fashion Group International

The Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home.

The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective in their careers. To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends in person, online and in print; access to business professionals and a gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace.