Fashion Focus Chicago 2012: Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's on State Street Presentation

Millennium Park once again hosted some of the biggest up-and-coming designers that the Windy City has to offer! Fashion Focus Chicago continued with the Macy’s Chicago Fashion Incubator 2012 runway show. Below are the six talented designerschosen to show their Spring and Summer 2013 looks at the tents last Thursday night. The CFI at Macy’s on State Street is a not-for-profit organization that supports new and emerging Chicago-based designers allowing them to showcase their talent on the stage of Fashion Focus.

Brooke Conrady‘s career began when she moved from Kansas to Chicago to obtain her degree at The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago. Conrady created her own line, blank nation, a contemporary women’s ready-to-wear clothing line. Her main focus as a designer is utilizing fashion and creativity to give back to the communities and she chooses a new charity each month and donates a percentage of sales to help those in need at her website blanknationapparel.com.

Sarah Church‘s fashion career began in Ohio in 1999, when her custom garments were featured in local boutiques. In 2000 Church moved to Chicago to attend the Illinois Institute of Art Chicago where she received her degree in Fashion Design. Sarah launched churchxoxo.com in 2011, which features several different collections, including her custom designs and ready-to-wear as well as vintage pieces.

LaTonya Williams attended Tennessee State University and earned a degree in mathematics and worked for over a decade in the IT field. In 2007, Williams moved to Chicago and enrolled in the fashion program at the International Academy of Design Technology and was second runner-up in 2010 in Kenmore’s So You Wanna Be A Designer reality show. Williams’ latest venture is a women’s clothing line of white blouses known as Elizabeth Smith fashions. esfashions.com.

A graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Fashion Design Program, Rachel Frank has always had a flair for the dramatic. From silk and leather, to lace and chains, RFD by Rachel Frank‘s evening avant-garde apparel is not for the meek, but is intended for the bold, dramatic woman rachelfrankdesign.com.

Christina Monley began her career in fashion in 2010 by creating Christina Karin, a luxury lifestyle brand defined by classic American glamor, edgy sophistication, and attainable price points. A portion of all sales goes toward various charity initiatives to help women and children around the world lead safer lives with greater opportunities. christinakarin.com

Lagilelei Nadeau graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York and Michigan State University for fashion design. In 2010, she launched the Lagi Nadeau jewelry collection and the Lagi Nadeau label will expand into an inaugural womenswear line with the launch of her Spring 2013 collection which blends high-end sophistication with a dash of edge. laginadeau.com – Taneisha Jordan

Source: chicagofashionincbator.org Photos: Second City Style