A Celebration of Chicago Style: Runway fashion at its finest

Chicago fashion is alive, well and thriving as witnessed by the chic, high volume number of guests who turned out for one of the hottest runway shows seen here in a long time. The Curio and the 21c Museum Hotel Chicago presented  “A Celebration of Chicago Style” on May 31. The evening, hosted by Cynthia Rowley and Nigel Barker, honored Chicago fashion designer Maria Pinto, while spotlighting rising luminaries that included Ajovang, Lola Elan, Production Mode and Sheila Rashid on the runway. 

The event was a great success in every way and made for one exciting night in the Windy City. Stylish guests posed for photographers and took selfies on the step-and-repeat before the show was presented in three rooms, to support the standing-room-only crowds!

Honoree Maria Pinto's exceptional contributions to Chicago fashion, including designing for nationally recognized leaders like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, were lauded. Her collection encompassed signature couture pieces from over the years, coupled with looks from her latest M2057 collection. The finale piece brought gasps from the crowd as an elegant model sashayed down the runway in a floor-length neon yellow, flowing gown.

The evening unfolded with a pre-reception that highlighted three Chicago-based accessory designers, followed by the runway presentation and a post-party. The accessory designers who stole the spotlight were Il Fratellino (footwear by Zac Rodriguez and Brian Atwood), Viviana Langhoff (jewelry) and Laudi Vidni (bags by Laura Kofoid).

Emcee Cynthia Rowley, a graduate of SAIC who recently received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, expressed her delight in returning to Chicago and hosting the event alongside Nigel Barker. The event underscored the importance of nurturing and promoting local talent. Barker, a 21c Chicago Creative Ambassador and seasoned fashion industry veteran, echoed these sentiments, praising the event as a fantastic opportunity to elevate the city's profile and showcase the creativity and passion intrinsic to the Chicago fashion community.

Tricoci Salon & Spa helped the designers in bringing their collections to life as well as event partners Select Model Management, CS Magazine, Inspiro Tequila, Lure Fishbar, and wines, which were provided by Mmmm...Just Enjoy. The runway show was styled by Sal Yvat and produced by ZZAZZ Productions, with hot music provided by DJ Akib.

This was the second event, out of four, where the 21c Museum Hotel Chicago and The Curio joined forces. The partnership aims to celebrate Chicago's diverse and vibrant fashion community. (Photos by Meaghan Shupter | Stephanie Jensen | Candid Candace Jordan)

Information on the rising apparel stars:

Adreain Guillory, a 2019 SAIC fashion graduate who was a Driehaus Fashion Award recipient, launched his Ajovang evening-wear (demi-couture) collection in 2021 and by 2022 had already been selected to participate in the Black in Fashion Council Discovery Showroom at New York Fashion Week. His pieces have been covered in Vogue, WWD, Fashionista and WGN TV.

Nigerian born Lola Elan, a current designer-in-residence of the Chicago Fashion Incubator, will showcase her wares on the runway for the first time before a home-town crowd.  But she also brings the experience of having showcased her collection during New York Fashion Week in 2020.  With a focus on sustainability, her contemporary womenswear line is made in Chicago.

Jamie Hayes (Production Mode) has been a leading voice in Chicago fashion for two decades, as well as a strong advocate for fair trade and the slow fashion movement. In 2021 the Chicago Reader named her the Chicago Designer of the Year, and she has been covered by nearly every Chicago media outlet over the years.

Sheila Rashid’s unisex unique take on streetwear has generated a substantial following of younger celebrities including Chance The Rapper, Bella Hadid, and Zendaya. She has also enjoyed partnerships with brands including Nike, Jack Daniels, H&M and Nissan.

Maria Pinto

 Maria's remarkable career has been marked by numerous achievements: 1991: Launched Maria Pinto luxury collection, sold Internationally including Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys NYC 2007: Dressed Michelle Obama 2009: Awarded the “Legends of Fashion” award from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2009: Invited to join the Council of Fashion Designers of America 2013: Launched M2057 by Maria Pinto – collections available at her Chicago boutique and her online style studio 2016: Celebrated her 25th anniversary in fashion design with a retrospective at Chicago's City Gallery 2016: Featured her designs on the popular TV drama series "Empire" on FOX Broadcasting Company 2017: Received an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2018: Showcased her artwork at the Holly Hunt Showroom 2023: Celebrating 10th anniversary of M2057 by Maria Pinto Maria Pinto's dexterity and commitment to creating both sustainable and accessible collections have earned her a well-deserved place in the fashion world.

You may also like:

Award-winning actor Darren Criss wows Goodman Theatre gala crowd