FashioNext is a fashion design competition featuring established Chicago area designers. Each participating designer will create a couture garment inspired by one of five selected pieces from the exhibition Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum. The winning garment will become part of the Museum's permanent costume collection, one of the premier costume collections in the world, and will be placed on display in Chic Chicago for the remainder of the exhibition run.

The Museum has partnered with Brentano Fabrics, a Chicago-based textile company that manufactures fabrics according to their philosophy of beauty + performance. Their design team pushes the boundaries of patterns, materials, weaves, and color while maintaining usability. Additionally, they produce a range of eco-fabrics under their Brentano Green label. Brentano is the exclusive fabric provider for this design competition.

Follow the Competition

Brianne Peck, FashioNext competition coordinator, will provide updates via the new Chicago History Museum blog as each milestone in the competition is reached.

> Visit the Chicago History Museum blog

Participating Designers

• Basia Frossard
• Jermikko
• Melissa Serpico Kamhout
• Lauren Lein
• Paul Sisti
• Price Walton

FashioNext Judges

• Timothy Long, Curator of Costumes, Chicago History Museum
• Andrea Kalish Reynders, Professor and Sage Studios Chair, Department of Fashion Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
• Noren Ungaretti, President, Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society
• Iris Wang, Co-owner and Vice President, Marketing and Design, Brentano Fabrics