World Fashion Chicago returned to Millennium Park on Thursday, October 2 for its third turn on the runway during Fashion Focus 2008. Building upon the tremendous success of the past two shows, Chicago Sister Cities International Program (CSCIP) once again featured some of the hottest international fashions, showcasing high-end designers that represent each of Chicago’s 27 sister cities. The show was a testament to the burgeoning fashion industry, and included premier showings of a select number of internationally-based designers looking to make their mark on the Chicago fashion scene. Linda Yu, ABC-7 News Anchor, served as the evenings Mistress of Ceremonies.
This year in a fashion-forward, world-premiere collaboration between TOYOTA concept creators and Chicago-based fashion designers, you’ll be the first in America to see the latest in personal mobility design (TOYOTA i-REAL) and fashion. Designers representing sister cities Warsaw, Poland; Milan, Italy; and Shanghai, China bring it all to life with i-REAL–inspired, concept fashions.
This year’s show featured a mix of high-end designers, including local talent like Melissa Serpico, Yana German, John Shultz and Anna Fong. They shared the runway with world-renowned designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, Jenny Packham and Akris. World Fashion also featured six designers who traveled to Chicago to be featured in the show including: Durban, South Africa; Paris, France; Mexico City, Mexico; Amman, Jordan; Casablanca, Morocco; and Shanghai, China.
The evening capped off with an after-party at Trump International Hotel & Tower. More than 400 guests packed the four themed party rooms at the Trump highlighting Shanghai, Mexico City, Mexico City and Paris.
World Fashion Chicago sponsors: Toyota, Jones Day, ComEd
CSCIP Title Sponsors: United Airlines and the Boeing Company
Media Sponsor: Michigan Avenue Magazine
The following designs and designers represented our Sister Cities at World Fashion Chicago 2008:
Accra, Ghana – Kwabena by Andy Osafo
Amman, Jordan – Kumbaz
Athens, Greece – Contessa Bottega
Belgrade, Serbia – Elan Furs
Birmingham, England – Eavis & Brown, Dimitra Bridal and Evening Couture
Busan, Korea – Suk Ja and Beth Lambert of Scarlet Desgins
Casablanca, Morocco – Chaba Couture by Albert Oiknine
Dehli, India – Raaz Boutique
Durban, South Africa – Zion Exclusive, Spirit Africa by Emeka Okocha
Galway, Ireland – John Schultz
Gothenburg, Sweden – Dame Couture
Hamburg, Germany – Syibuy Hada Boutique by Kate Jacobsen, Steven Rosengard
Kyiv, Ukraine – Silkway Studios by Sasha
Lahore, Pakistan – Raaz Boutique
Lucerne, Switzerland – Akris available available at Neiman Marcus
Mexico City, Mexico – Macario Jiménez, Elda De La Rosa
Milan, Italy – SERPICO by Melissa Serpico, Paula Sisti, Dolce & Gabbana
Moscow, Russia – Yana German
Osaka, Japan – Tatsuya Shida
Paris, France – Sakina M’sa, Jasmine Dimilio, Sansappelle
Petach Tikva, Israel – Tel Aviv Couture
Prague, Czech Republic – John Rezny for York Furrier
Shanghai, China – Liu Canming
Shenyang, China – Anna Fong
Toronto, Canada – Lida Baday
Vilnius, Lithuania – Renata Liutkiene
Warsaw, Poland – Mira Couture, Evil Kitty and Agga B.
Chicago, USA – Duvall
More information about World Fashion Chicago can be found at www.worldfashionchicago.com
