Blog Assignment 5

NUMBER ONE:

Mayor’s Fashion Council PR Information:

What exactly are the goals of Mayor Daley's Fashion Council?
The City of Chicago Office of Tourism, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, manages Mayor Daley's Fashion Initiative. Melissa Gamble is the Director of Fashion Arts & Events for the City of Chicago. The goal of this initiative is to promote and enhance Chicago's fashion industry and designers.

The Fashion Initiative launched September 2005 with Fashion Focus Chicago. In April 2006, the Mayors Fashion Council was formed. In January 2007, year round programming was added.

The Mayors Fashion Council Chicago is committed to elevating and educating local Chicago designers and boutiques. Launched in April 2006 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, the Council aims to identify the current challenges facing designers who live and work in Chicago as well as advise on ways the city and industry can work together to overcome those challenges.

What are the plans for meeting these goals?
A working Council, members meet at least once a month and are divided into three committees based on the issues designers face. These committees include: programming, resources and sponsorship. The committees determine short and long-term goals at the beginning of each year.

What do programs such as the fashion council seminars hope to accomplish?
Establishing Chicago as a fashion destination and develop and pool resources needed to partner leading local designers and boutiques with fashion-centric Chicago consumers. All goals are on par with the Mayor's Fashion Initiative.

Mayor's Fashion Initiative Events include: the City's Fashion Week the cornerstone event of the Mayor's fashion initiative, Fashion Focus Chicago (FFC); the Chicago Sidewalk Sale on Daley Plaza; Glitter: A Holiday Shopping Event at the Cultural Center; Shopping tours of the City's neighborhoods, children's fashion fun, Do-It-Yourself fashion events, free educational seminars for designers and retailers; a fashion website, www.chicagofashionresource.com ; and development of the Mayor's Fashion Council.
Fashion Focus Chicago, one of the key programs of the Mayor's Fashion Initiative, have helped elevate the City's profile in the fashion community. FFC has garnered national attention from the media, industry and consumers. The program has heightened awareness of Chicago's emerging fashion design community as well as the rising global position of the City.

Is a major goal to develop a fashion industry comparable to that of New York's?
Not to create an industry comparable of New York's because Chicago and New York are very different, but to establish an international name for Chicago fashion and provide the resources needed for the community to continue to thrive.

Who sets up fashion shows around the city? Can you give me contacts or web sites with more information on this?
Besides Fashion Focus Chicago's runway shows(2007 included Allure of Couture, Gen Art's Fresh Faces, Chicago Sister City's World Fashion Chicago, AIBI's Chicago Is...Red Hot!!! and Macy's Designers of Chicago) various organizations and committees including Gen Art, Chicago Fashion Foundation, Apparel Industry Board Chicago, Fashion Group International, The Merchandise Mart, Department Stores, the Fashion Colleges and modeling agencies among others. They are produced by in fashion show producers such as Zzazz Productions.

In what was can you verify that there has been increased in interest in fashion in Chicago due to the mayor's fashion initiative?
Creation of website to provide information on industry, designers, boutiques and resources that are available to a broader group. FFC has garnered national attention from the media, industry and consumers. The program has heightened awareness of Chicago's emerging fashion design community as well as the rising global position of the City. Fashion Focus Chicago 2007 drew approximately 35,000 attendees. The program received the advertising equivalent of approximately $1 million dollars in editorial coverage.


What I discovered: Basic background information about the Mayor’s Fashion Council. There is not much information at all available on line, so much of the information gathered here is new to me and will be useful in my article, for example, I got the list of programs the mayor has started in light of his fashion initiative.

A few assertions/facts: Fashion Focus Chicago 2007 drew approximately 35,000 attendees. The program received the advertising equivalent of approximately $1 million dollars in editorial coverage.

Besides Fashion Focus Chicago's runway shows(2007 included Allure of Couture, Gen Art's Fresh Faces, Chicago Sister City's World Fashion Chicago, AIBI's Chicago Is...Red Hot!!! and Macy's Designers of Chicago) various organizations and committees including Gen Art, Chicago Fashion Foundation, Apparel Industry Board Chicago, Fashion Group International, The Merchandise Mart, Department Stores, the Fashion Colleges and modeling agencies among others. They are produced by in fashion show producers such as Zzazz Productions.

Mayor's Fashion Initiative Events include: the City's Fashion Week the cornerstone event of the Mayor's fashion initiative, Fashion Focus Chicago (FFC); the Chicago Sidewalk Sale on Daley Plaza; Glitter: A Holiday Shopping Event at the Cultural Center; Shopping tours of the City's neighborhoods, children's fashion fun, Do-It-Yourself fashion events, free educational seminars for designers and retailers; a fashion website, www.chicagofashionresource.com ; and development of the Mayor's Fashion Council.
Fashion Focus Chicago, one of the key programs of the Mayor's Fashion Initiative, have helped elevate the City's profile in the fashion community. FFC has garnered national attention from the media, industry and consumers. The program has heightened awareness of Chicago's emerging fashion design community as well as the rising global position of the City.

NUMBER TWO:

Mayor Daley Announces Creation of Fashion Advisory Council: Press Release:

http://www.ci.chi.il.us/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1539004716.1208454449@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadedlhhljejcefecelldffhdfhg.0&contentOID=536940847&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Mayors+Office%2FJune%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Mayors+Office&deptMainCategoryOID=-536882034

What I discovered: This press release listed the names of the mayor’s fashion council industry members and mentions the appointment of Melissa Turner as Director of Fashion Arts and Events. It also includes a brief official goal of the council and quotes from the mayor. Although the mayor's quotes date back to 2006, I can definitely use them as proofs to describe what the mayor planned at the beginning of the program and where the Fashion Council is now; what has changed/happened in the meantime, etc.

Assertion: The Fashion Advisory Council will identify ways to retain and support new and established designers in Chicago and assist design students in transitioning from school to career. Members of the Council represent diverse aspects of the fashion industry and the design community. Each will bring a unique background, business strategy and area of expertise to the council, and unite their resources, talent and knowledge to improve the industry.
“The Fashion Advisory Council will help Chicago continue to grow as a fashion center by nurturing new and emerging designers and providing the necessary resources for established designers based here,” said Daley. “Through the Council and programs such as an expanded Fashion Focus this fall, we are developing new ways to connect designers with essential industry resources and people who can support them in their work. “
“With four college fashion design programs, Chicago is continually being presented with new talent,” said Turner. “Emerging and established designers are among our city's great cultural assets. We look forward to working with the Council to enhance the profile of these artists.”

NUMBER THREE

TIME ARTICLE: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1206278,00.html

Summary: This article provides facts and information about the Mayor's Fashion Council and it is a trusted source. It also mentions the concern of Chicago-based fashion designers, which I plan on including in my article. Granted, Daley's program is only 2 years old, I would like to find people who have benefited, or not, from Daley's fashion programs. This article also mentions the barriers faced by many aspiring young fashion students, which is also very interesting.

A few assertions/ideas I will use for my article: In the long run, the council wants to make Chicago a hospitable haven for new designers. The city boasts four design schools, but since there are no large clothing headquarters, many graduates quickly flee to New York or Los Angeles to find jobs as assistant designers; some, like Cynthia Rowley and Wendy Mullin, have gone on to great success. "If someone wants to design right out of school, their best option is to start their own label," Turner says. That, of course, takes capital that many young grads do not yet have.

Can Chicago Become a Fashion Capital?
The city of Chicago is famous for many things — frigid windy winters, fine architecture, the hapless Cubs, to name a few — but high fashion is not one of them. For most people, what usually comes to mind when thinking of fashion in the City of Big Shoulders is baseball caps and khakis. But Mayor Richard M. Daley thinks he can change all that. Daley recently announced the creation of a Fashion Advisory Council, a city-backed coalition of local designers and industry champions who will promote fashion growth. By nurturing designers, the city hopes to bolster its retail economy, gain tourism dollars and heighten its image as a world-class city.

To help realize that dream, Daley has created the position of director of fashion arts and events in his administration. Melissa Turner, who recently took that job, will act as liaison between the council and local fashion organizations, design schools, designers and the community, and will prepare for September's Fashion Focus, a 10-day fashion blowout based in Millennium Park.
In the long run, the council wants to make Chicago a hospitable haven for new designers. The city boasts four design schools, but since there are no large clothing headquarters, many graduates quickly flee to New York or Los Angeles to find jobs as assistant designers; some, like Cynthia Rowley and Wendy Mullin, have gone on to great success. "If someone wants to design right out of school, their best option is to start their own label," Turner says. That, of course, takes capital that many young grads do not yet have.
Yet Turner is not entirely starting with a blank canvas. Over the past few years, high-scale boutiques showcasing local talent have been cropping up everywhere, and the organization Gen Art moved into town, creating buzz with New York-style fashion shows. Several experienced local designers who sell nationally, such as Orlando Espinoza, Lara Miller and Michelle Tan, have been garnering attention on the pages of glossy fashion magazines. "Down the road I believe many jobs will become available, particularly in areas such as fashion merchandising, modeling, fashion photography, fashion show production and pattern makers," says Espinoza, co-chair on the 19-member council. "I think you're going to see a drastic change."
Ilissa Shefferman, who graduated from Chicago's International Academy of Design and Technology last September, says it was a conscious choice to start her label, I.S. Designs, in Chicago. Was she concerned about setting up shop in a town known more for its pizza than its pret-a-porter? "It does kind of have a dorky reputation, but I think it's undeserved," she says, laughing. "Chicagoans are pretty open-minded, and they love to branch out wearing local designers — there's a feeling of pride."
That same pride is starting to actually lure some designers to relocate in Chicago from the coasts. Orlando Espinoza moved his business here from Los Angles six years ago. And Joëlle Minassian, who designed for Versace and Gianfranco Ferre in Italy, returned to her hometown in December to launch a handbag business. "Chicago has a lot to offer," she says. "New York is a great city, but I think Chicago is more forgiving and there's more space to grow. There's so much talent here that's been overlooked."
Some established designers, however, are skeptical of the city's attempts to help them much in the next few years. "I love Chicago, but the industry is quite challenging," says Maria Pinto, a council member and life-long Chicago resident. "The resources are in other places, the buyers are all in New York; it's been tempting [to move] at times." She says she hasn't noticed things getting smoother for her business lately, but she hopes the Fashion Advisory Council will help start-up companies. "They might have a little easier time getting launched, and the city can surely have an impact on that." If all goes as planned, it could soon be the other way around, with the designers leaving their mark on Chicago.

NUMBER FOUR:

Chicago Shopping Map: Print Version

Summary: I discovered a list and a very helpful map of many shopping centers and boutiques located in Chicago.

Assertion: This map will be of good use when it comes to my Google map and provides me with a list of places I can actually go to or look up on line to contact designers.


Funkshion Clothing: funkshionclothing.com
Funkshion Clothing boutique is located in Wicker Park and is open as of Novermber 2007. According to their web site, Funkshion Clothing offers shoppers with a unique shopping experience through their staff, style, and our innovations. Located in the Wicker Park area Funkshion bring traditional yet edgy mix of clothing and designers from across the world. With a DJ spinning music in the front, black leather couches to comfortably lounge on, and free drinks, Funkshion makes the consumer feel right at home. Funkshion Clothing Brings there clothing from everywhere including Italy, Turkey, Chile, Germany, England, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and even some local Chicago designers.

Assertion: I had seen ads for Funkshion Clothing in mini-magazines such as Image and Chicago Scene. Apparently there is a purple color theme to the designs, music is played at the location and free drinks are served to customers. Funkshion also claims they sell one of a kind pieces, meaning they sell one piece in each size in each design. This is as unique as it gets for a new fashion spot based in Chicago, and will definitely be featured in my Google map. The boutique basically provides me with an interesting location to mention in my story and on my Google map. This is an interesting/supporting mention.



And here is the rest of it. Read more!

Fashion 101

Get ready for a crash course of Fashion 101 ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Daley is strutting his stuff again…or at least he’s helping others do it. Committed to establishing Chicago as a “fashion destination”, or a “fashion hub” the Mayor’s Fashion Council is back with their Spring Seminars and is thrilled to bring you a very inspiring week of style. You’ll learn the basics, who to contact, where to go, why purple suits catch everyone’s attention, Prince. Anyway, the event will feature retailing and design start up issues, licensing partnerships, and more! Speakers will include members of the Mayor’s Fashion Council as well as experts working in the fashion community so if you ever dreamed of becoming the next Donatella Versace or Coco Chanel, give it a shot.
It’s free but hurry! You have to RSVP by April 18th to taylor.wilson@cityofchicago.org. Bring your friends too!

When: May 5th and 6th 6-8pm, May 7th 5:30-7:30pm
Read more!

Interview with Avani of sisters Avani and Sneh, founders/designers of Nasaani Fashion

Chicago-based designer Avani discusses her experience with starting her own fashion line, Nasaani.

INTERVIEW:

(Hellos, can I record this?.. and such)

Q:Can you pronounce the name of this company?

A:Sure, Nassani.

Q:Nassani, ok. And can you give me a brief history, how you began?

A: Um, my sister and I started the company a few years back. We got into it because we just kind of got tired of the fashion in Chicago and we thought it would kind of be nice to kind of be able to wear things that are a little bit different so we started making a few pieces for ourselves. And we just got so many compliments on them and we had so many people stop us and ask us ‘where did you get that piece’, and what not so we decided, why not try to launch this into a brand. It was really something that just kind of happened and so we decided to take our chances and start a line and we ended up getting a lot of positive feedback and so that’s how the company got started.

Q: Are you located in Chicago?

A: The company is based out of Chicago, I actually live in New York and I am also a full time attorney so I practice law as well, and she actually just moved to Cincinatti because she is doing a fellowship over there, well because she actually has a doctorate in pharmacy and is pursuing more of a brand management marketing type of position with that.

Q: So do you have a store in Chicago?

A: You know we don’t have a store, we were actually selling to boutiques in Chicago.

Q: What influences your style?

A: My style is probably more of a European look, it’s more classic lined, perfect cut, a lot of silk, very up scale for women, we like, I personally love getting dressed up, I love dresses and skirts, so I think the line reflects that. Also, very chic and I think it’s for someone who wants to get noticed, it’s not something you put on just to blend in with everyone else, it’s very different. And we hope that our pieces are very classic, they don’t necessarily reflect a trend more than a style. It’s more like you can take that piece out of the closet a year later and still wear it.

Q: Ok, you said that you were tired of Chicago fashion so you decided to come up with something unique, correct?

A: Yes.

Q: So now you are in New York, is fashion different there?

A: Fashion is very different in New York versus Chicago because you do have a lot of emerging designers in New York. You have a lot of different looks that you don’t find in Chicago. Even with the big name stores, even department stores, they carry a lot of stuff that is very different for Chicago. A lot more people in New York get dressed up more often. Walking outside you see more people that are dressed head to toe.

Q: In an effort to keep designers from leaving the Midwest, Mayor Daley began launching fashion friendly programs in the past couple years like fashion shows, and contests. Did you participate in such programs?

A: We did actually do, well we didn’t do the ones the mayor has launched but we did do Lolapalooza. A few years back they did a fashion show, we partook in that. We also did the first Chicago fashion week that they had put together a year or two ago as well. So we have been doing Chicago events, and we are very much based out of Chicago in the sense that we have done most of our marketing in Chicago. To tell you the truth for the past year we didn’t do anything new with the line because we are thinking of starting a children’s line. We haven’t really focused on it much because we have both been very busy professionally as well but I think it is something we are trying to get back into for the new season…But you said, I think, you know Chicago is a great place and I’m glad that the city has done so much more for the fashion industry and I hope that designers don’t necessarily leave the Midwest. And I think there are a lot more boutiques in Chicago, I think it’s changing.

Q: So you have noticed change compared to a couple years ago?

A: I think so, I think there are a lot more emerging designers. When we first started designing it seemed like if we did a fashion show it was always the same designers names that came up, and I think there were a hand full, and just from what I have been seeing now it just seems like there are more people doing these events and these shows in Chicago now.

Q: The mayor hopes that his efforts will help keep young and emerging artists and designers in the city. How open of a market has the fashion industry been for you? Was is easy, difficult to get into?

A: I think the fashion industry is a very difficult business to get into. There is no right way of doing it. There is no formula for it like there is for other things. You want to be a doctor, go to medical school, you want to be a lawyer go to law school. I think with the fashion industry everybody kind of gets into it in different ways and I think it is very difficult to promote your brand over someone else’s brand. But it’s great that the mayor is doing these things, I think that the one recommendation I have is to make the information a little bit more readily available. When we were starting out doing these things I think we didn’t really have access to that information.

Q: Did you or your sister attend fashion school or take classes?

A: No we didn’t, it just kind of started out as a personal endeavor and then kind of blossomed into a little bit more.

Q: So you began a couple years ago…and you started sewing your own clothes or..?

A: No, none of us actually know how to really sew, so we did some of it and them we kind of assigned seamstresses to do the rest.

Q: So would you draw out your designs?

A: Yes, we would draw them and go fabric shopping…

(Explanation of Loyola University project again, thank yous and such)

Avani – I don’t know if you know this but I actually graduated from Loyola…

(Small World)




5 QUALITY QUOTES:


1. “My sister and I started the company a few years back. We got into it because we just kind of got tired of the fashion in Chicago and we thought it would kind of be nice to kind of be able to wear things that are a little bit different so we started making a few pieces for ourselves.”

– This quote describes what influenced the two sisters to begin their clothes line and it mentions the “problem” Chicago and the general Midwest has with boring fashion, something Mayor Daley is trying to change with the launch of Chicago’s Fashion Week and other fashion initiatives.

2. “Fashion is very different in New York versus Chicago because you do have a lot of emerging designers in New York. You have a lot of different looks that you don’t find in Chicago.”

- Again this quote emphasizes the fact that Chicago is not such a fashion-friendly environment as is New York City for example. Mayor Daley is hoping he can change that with his fashion programs to keep emerging designers from leaving the Midwest to go East and West coast.

3. “I think the fashion industry is a very difficult business to get into. There is no right way of doing it. There is no formula for it like there is for other things. You want to be a doctor, go to medical school, you want to be a lawyer go to law school.”

- This quote describes the difficulty of getting breaking into the fashion industry from the perspective of someone who began their own fashion line basically starting from scratch, and it is relevant because I would assume most emerging designers do not have family members who already own a fashion line, so they start small themselves and work their way into the market.

4. “It’s great that the mayor is doing these things, I think that the one recommendation I have is to make the information a little bit more readily available. When we were starting out doing these things I think we didn’t really have access to that information.”

- This quote mentions the mayor’s attempts to do something for a Chicago-based fashion market and suggests what could be done to help emerging designers, from the perspective of one.

5. “It was really something that just kind of happened and so we decided to take our chances and start a line and we ended up getting a lot of positive feedback and so that’s how the company got started.”

It just kind of started out as a personal endeavor and then kind of blossomed into a little bit more.”

- These two similar quotes encompass the uncertainty of emerging designers, as well as what prompted the sisters to take a chance. Most emerging designers can probably relate.

QUESTIONS I WILL CALL BACK FOR:

What types of obstacles did you face in attempting to create your own fashion line?

As a designer, what would you suggest to emerging and hopeful fashion designers?

Where do you plan on launching your children’s line? Will you stay in Chicago?

Based on any experience, would you say it is more difficult to break into the fashion industry in Chicago, or in places like New York and San Francisco?

Describe how you went about getting clients to buy your pieces and how often you designed, etc.

Read more!

Art, Fashion, I Now Pronounce You Husband and Wife

Fashion and art start coming to life in Chicago after Mayor Daley began launching fashion friendly programs in recent years.Mayor Daley’s appointment in 2006 of Melissa Turner as Chicago’s director of fashion arts and events has created a favorable environment for Chicago based designers, keeping them from fleeing to either coast.
That’s not to say that fashion and art have collided allover the globe.Leading examples of fashion/art collaboration include Haute house Louis Vuitton. The company has worked with various artists in the past and most recently incorporated the artwork of Richard Price, who designed a handbag line based on his “Nurse Paintings” for spring 2008. Models walked down the runway, holding handbags, dressed as nurses.Damien Hirst, a British postmodern artist who created a diamond skull that reportedly sold for $100 million is a prime example of art and fashion colliding. After collaboration with Levi Strauss & Co., Hirst created a jeans line featuring rhinestone skulls for 2008.“It’s art for the masses”, said Alexa Brazilian, Elle magazine fashion news director, “A lot of people can’t afford a Hirst piece but they can afford his jeans.”Art may kiss the bride.
Read more!

No Strings Attached…A Brief History of The Threadless Co.

Threadless.com, a thriving T-shirt business was born right here in Chicago.
Jake Nickell, 27, Jacob DeHart, 26, and Jeffrey Kalmikoff, 28, are the masterminds behind this catchy art focused fashion business. The three young men had no background in design and no business school education, but their borrowed idea of hosting on-line T-shirt design contests has earned them millions.The Threadless concept, from soliciting designs, to creating a crazed community, now over 400,000 strong, calls for users to get fashionably involved by submitting their digitally created designs to be included in weekly themed contests.The community votes, and winners get their shirt printed. Designers whose entry wins a contest receive $2,000 in cash and a $500 gift certificate to Threadless.com, and get another $500 if the shirt is reprinted.Threadless has paid out more than $1 million a year to winning designers and continues to attract more members interested in contributing to the company, and supporting the Threadless community by purchasing their favorite pieces priced at roughly $12 to $25.
Read more!

Six Local Fashion Designers in the Spotlight in Chicago’s Fashion Incubator, Welcome to Trendy City

Six local fashion designers have been chosen to occupy the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s on State Street..

Set to open this March, the incubator is part of Mayor Daley’s efforts to turn the Windy City into Trendy City. The Mayor and business leaders want to keep home grown designers right here in the “Chi” rather than loose them to the big fashion cities of New York and Los Angeles.The Mayor thinks “this is an important step toward developing the next generation of design talent in our city.”By partnering with major retailer Macy’s, the Mayor’s program offers fashion hopefuls the opportunity to “develop their skills and learn more about the fashion business.” By attending fashion events held at Macy’s, designers receive mentoring by the retailer’s Chicago based merchant and by other professionals.Macy’s vice president of corporate communications, Ralph Hughes, said Macy’s wants to empower the designers with the tools they will need to succeed in the fashion business.The chosen designers include Glenn Mallory, Kate Coxworth, Agga Raya, Lidia Wachowska, Yana German, and Kristin Rosynek Hassan.
Read more!

Fashion Craze Strikes the Land of Khaki and Jean Simplicity

Mayor Daley, is determined to remake the Windy City as a fashion hub, swaying away from the dull and boring everyday. A fashion industry is born in Chicago.

The mayor hopes his efforts will help keep young and emerging artists and fashion designers in the city. “Fashion designers add excitement and flair to the city,” he said, “They attract attention from around the nation and the world.” “And,” he added, “they create jobs.”In 2006 the Mayor appointed Melissa Turner, former lawyer gone advocate as Chicago’s director pf fashion and arts. Ms. Turner plans the city’s Fashion Week, an event that attracts many hopeful designers and helps them in their cause. Ms. Turner acknowledges the city’s hands-on approach to fashion is a bit unusual but unlike established fashion capitals, Chicago needs some government push and help to get its fashion industry started.“It’s a different approach to cultivating artistic talent,” said Ms. Turner, “The goal is definitely to get a very good, solid foundation laid, and then to keep building on that to support the different levels of designers here.”Those fashion-knowledgeable way East and West snicker at the idea of the Midwest attracting serious fashion attention, but nonetheless, the mayor is undeterred, and is taking steps to perfect Chicago’s run down the catwalk. After all, “Fashion,” he said, “is the heart and soul of the city.”
Read more!

BLOG ASSIGNMENT 2

Elements of a Good Story/Audience Analysis

UNUSUALNESS: Chicago Social: Fashion and Home Special – March 2008 “Where’s the Party?”

This piece is a brief description about a fashion statement made by an Obama fans. “Obama-mania has Chicago trendsetters drumming up recognition for the hometown candidate, from a street-based effort to spread the word to celeb-endorsed wearable statements.” Ray Noland, a graphic designer who works out of his apartment in Pilsen, crafted a series of inspirational, retro-looking Obama images which appeared as graffiti art around abandoned buildings in throughout the city. Noland sells t-shirts, or, as the piece states “some of the coolest political gear we have ever seen,” on his Web site www.gotellmama.org, raising funds for Obama’s campaign. This piece was published in the March 2008 Fashion and Home Special issue of the Chicago Social, a more up-scale and trendy in-city publication designed for a younger urban fashion, business, and public relations oriented audience. The unusualness lies in the fact that art (graffiti style), politics, and fashion collide, and the story, for the most part, is based here in Chicago.

UNUSUALNESS 2:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/green/sns-eco-fashion,0,1330773.story

This story was written for the Chicago Tribune and introduces/suggests the idea that the next time someone goes shopping for some clothing that they consider "going green" with it. "There are some clothes that are as sylish as they are eco-friendly." states Marta Waller (KTLA News) in the article. The tone of the article is laid back and probably written for a younger eco-conscious audience, including the Tribune reader audience. Part of the article reads:

"You might not think of bamboo as being luxurious and soft against your skin, but it is just that; soft, silky, breathable and very envrionmentally friendly. Bamboo is a highly sustainable fabric.

Making a choice to wear eco-friendly clothing doesn't mean dressing like a hippie from the 60's, unless that's the look you want. You can find whimsical designs in recycled cashmere as well as hemp- and- silk for evening ocassions. As Sharon Glasser of Whole Foods LifeSyle Store says 'It's elegant, you see it on the red carpet. It's not about being crunchy granola anymore.'"

At the end of the article the reader is provided with a list of places they can actually purchase "eco-friendly" clothing: "Here are some links to places to buy eco-friendly apparel and accessories:
wholefoodsmarket.com
deborahlindquist.com
kimwhitehandbags.com
bamboosa.com
mattandnat.com"

Overall, the article is an easy read and its main topic is current as most people have been exposed to some for of the "go green" movement through television, ads, articles, purchases, etc. It is unusual because it combines fashion with being eco-friendly, which makes it interesting as well.

PROMINENCE/IMPACT: Chicago Social: Fashion and Home Special – March 2008 “The truth About Marc – America’s Biggest Designer Brings His Fashionable Contradictions to Bucktown”

This is a longer more in-depth piece about Marc Jacobs opening his first store in Chicago, also including biographical information about the designer. The piece is well written and focused. The text is written in a way that keeps the reader interested. “After all,” says the author of Jacobs “this is the most important figure in American fashion, a man who lets Vogue editrix Anna Wintour cool her heels for hours before his runway shows and routinely gives the fashion elite the middle finger.” Though the piece is on the longer side, written for print, it can definitely be shortened to make a great Web story with sentences like the one mentioned previously. You don’t expect sentences like that, and when you see them you want to read more. The article offers background and current information about Jacob’s new store which just opened in Chicago, also mentioning future plans of the 2009 opening of the “Windy City Marc Jacobs Collection” store. Just like for the brief piece titled “Where’s the Party?” this article was written for the March 2008 Fashion and Home Special issue of the Chicago Social, a more up-scale and trendy in-city publication designed for a younger urban fashion, business, and public relations oriented audience. The impact here is that Marc Jacobs is known as a great fashion designer, and, in the midst of a fashion uprising in Chicago, he is opening big-time stores in the city. I assumed he would already have had a store here but I guess not. Apparently the fashion-oriented media is picking up on this story as if it is huge for the fashion industry/history of Chicago.


PROMINENCE/CONFLICT/CURRENCY/TIMELINESS/PROXIMITY:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/831621,lafash030808.article

This recent Sun Times article is a great source because it encompasses conflict, currency, timeliness, prominence, and proximity. It mentions that Chicago’s fashion week and states that established fashion designers such as Sue Wong are not too fond of the fact that the celebrity-gone-fashion designer trend has taken over. The Hill’s star Lauren Conrad, Niki Hilton, Hilary Duff, Penelope Cruz, the Pussycat Dolls and for the kids, the annoying Hannah Montanta have released their own fashion lines. Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Hilary Duff have infiltrated the perfume market. The article states “So as Fashion Week gets under way Sunday, the spotlight turns to the likes of ‘‘The Hills’’ star Lauren Conrad, Nicky Hilton and the Pussycat Dolls.
Yes, the Pussycat Dolls.
Hey, it’s just Hollywood, right?
Wong, for one, calls the emerging trend ‘‘absolutely bogus.’’
But Smashbox co-founder Davis Factor says the week ‘‘is for everybody,’’ from established designers to show biz types. Even the burlesque-inspired singing girl group.
‘‘Sure, every celebrity and his brother wants to be a fashion designer,’’ said Wong, who has been designing since 1968. ‘‘It’s not like anybody can pick it up and do it. It’s a science. You need to know fit and construction.’”
The major conflict here is between established fashion designers who consider themselves experienced and talented, vs. celebrities whose professions are singing and acting. Hilary Duff does it all. The acting, the singing, the clothes line, the perfume, and even school and arts and crafts supplies. This article is one of the better ones I found, and understandably so since it belongs to the Sun Times. The piece offers a wide range of information involving the fashion industry. ‘‘The Hollywood writers strike affected the season 25 percent. More of the designers are watching their money. Sales are down. Fashion shows are expensive. And many designers don’t have collections ready yet,’’

PROXIMITY:

http://themidwasteland.com/main/

The Midwasteland (Your Destination for Fashion, Lifestyle and Culture in the Midwest) is a blog spot designed for younger/college aged people. On the main page there is an interview video with one of Marc Jacob’s business partners, talking about the first Mark Jacobs store opened in Chicago. I noticed a rather funny pole asking “who has the best style?” rating Chicago New York and Los Angeles. Though Chicago is not known for fashion as much as are the other cities, it was no surprise that the Chicago-based poll resulted in 61% for the city. There is also an upcoming events section featuring fashion happenings in Chicago and around the Mid West.

CURRENCY:
http://www.chicagofashionweek.com/home.html

This piece is an introduction to Chicago’s Fashion week presented by MasterCard. It describes the event as “much talked about, and highly anticipated…in the local and national fashion industry.” The bi-annual event started in 2006 and has continued to provide aspiring fashion designers a chance to present their original designs, describing the event as a platform for national and international buyers, affirming Chicago’s global status as a major fashion force.” Another interesting element is that students are invited to join in the Chicago fashion program. The Chicago fashion week program is attempting to involve a younger audience of aspiring fashion designers by giving them “unparalleled visibility in the fashion community through the event titled “The New Generation.” A click to the link http://www.chicagofashionweek.com/designers.html offers a short description of the “New Generation” event which “offers college students from Illinois an opportunity to showcase their emerging talent while offering guests a sneak peak at future design stars.”

CONFLICT/PROXIMITY:

http://www.chicagofashiondesigners.com/time.html

I found this Time Magazine in partnership with CNN on chicagofashiondesigners.com. It's title says a lot: "Can Chicago Become a Fashion Capital?
Don't laugh. Mayor Daley is trying to make the Windy City a center of design on a par with New York or L.A." In fact, the title is what made me jump to the article in the first place.

The article was written last June, but it provides a non-current view point and is useful in comparing any progress Chicago has made in the fashion industry in the past couple months.

The article began with an interesting lead: "The city of Chicago is famous for many things — frigid windy winters, fine architecture, the hapless Cubs, to name a few — but high fashion is not one of them. For most people, what usually comes to mind when thinking of fashion in the City of Big Shoulders is baseball caps and khakis. But Mayor Richard M. Daley thinks he can change all that. Daley recently announced the creation of a Fashion Advisory Council, a city-backed coalition of local designers and industry champions who will promote fashion growth. By nurturing designers, the city hopes to bolster its retail economy, gain tourism dollars and heighten its image as a world-class city."

The article was written for a very popular source and therefore has a wide array of audiences. The read was easy, pretty laid back, it poked fun at our city, but also offered some very basic facts:

"To help realize that dream, Daley has created the position of director of fashion arts and events in his administration. Melissa Turner, who recently took that job, will act as liaison between the council and local fashion organizations, design schools, designers and the community, and will prepare for September's Fashion Focus, a 10-day fashion blowout based in Millennium Park."

Furthermore, the article provides the reader with the point of view of established designers:
"Some established designers, however, are skeptical of the city's attempts to help them much in the next few years. "I love Chicago, but the industry is quite challenging," says Maria Pinto, a council member and life-long Chicago resident. "The resources are in other places, the buyers are all in New York; it's been tempting [to move] at times." She says she hasn't noticed things getting smoother for her business lately, but she hopes the Fashion Advisory Council will help start-up companies. "They might have a little easier time getting launched, and the city can surely have an impact on that." If all goes as planned, it could soon be the other way around, with the designers leaving their mark on Chicago."

This is an example of conflict between the designers and the city program. Is it good enough to keep them from leaving?

I would say this article is similar to the articles of the Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune. They are all informative and, because they are not hard news, they can be written in a lighter, more fun tone. Read more!