Akira – Erikka Wang, Jon Cotay, Eric Hsueh

2002 marked the opening of the first Akira store, a women’s boutique, on North Avenue in Bucktown. Just five years later the company has expanded into six locations and includes full-lines of womenswear, menswear, footwear, and accessories. The pieces are fashion forward and trendy, bringing fresh clothing and accessories to Chicago. Customers can find something for every occasion from casual daywear to elegant eveningwear, plus find some shoes and accessories to go with it. Even better, everything is budget-friendly, perfect for its core audience of 20-35 urbanites.

The three owners have meant to keep Akira a local institution, showcasing local designers and highlighting Chicago as a fashion capital. The owners love meeting new people and take pride in their customers’ support. The stores’ growth has proven Akira to be a success. The company also sponsors local events and fundraisers, and puts on fashion shows featuring their pieces.

Menswear, Footwear, and Accessories boutiques can be found near the womenwear location along North Avenue in Bucktown. There is a shoe store on State Street downtown and women’s store in Lincoln Park.

1814 W. North Ave. (women’s)
Chicago, IL 60622
773-489-0818

www.akirachicago.com

Lee Allison Company - Lee Allison

Offering whimsical and high-quality designs, Lee Allison Company contains an array of cosmopolitan neckties, bowties, cummerbunds, formal vests, and more. All of the fabrics are designed by Lee Allison himself, giving his products a distinguished look. His signature neckties, made of 100% European silk, can be found in various Chicago boutiques. Produced in its own Bucktown studio, Lee Allison Company’s merchandise are a perfect example of Chicago-made products.

Formally an investment banking analyst and a Harvard Business School graduate, Lee Allison started his company in 1995. With virtually no prior fashion experience, he is living the American dream, designing and selling his own creations.

A list of national Lee Allison product carriers is available online. Chicago boutiques featuring Lee’s designs include Apartment Number 9, Hinsdale Clothiers, and the W Hotel Gift Shops.

Lee Allison Company
1820 West Webster Avenue, #401
Chicago, IL 60614-2927
773-276-7172

www.leeallison.com

Orlando Espinoza

Truly one of Chicago’s top designers, Orlando Espinoza creates pieces that make his female clients shine with modern, sophisticated beauty. Collections composed of silk and jersey dresses, tops, and skirts take women from day to night. Expertly tailored cuts and ruched detailing give each Orlando Espinoza design a distinct look. Orlando’s clients are strong yet subtle, something every Chicago women should be.

Originating from Los Angeles, Orlando worked in the fashion industry for over ten years. In the late nineties, he started his own label, moving to Chicago about five years ago after becoming captivated by its visual beauty. Since then he has been gaining national recognition as a Chicago-based designer. He was featured as one of the Macy’s 47 in fall 2006. Through this, his designs were sold at Macy’s in a department of the store dedicated to local talent. Orlando also serves as Co-Chair on the Mayor’s Fashion Advisory Council that was formed in 2004. His efforts to improve the community as a whole make him a prominent name in Chicago fashion.

Orlando’s designs can be found in over nine Chicago boutiques and also online at http://www.secondcitystore.com/store/home.php.

Fountainhead Building
1932 South Halsted Street, Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60608
312-829-4009 (appointment only)

www.orlandoespinoza.com

Jill Alberts Jewelry – Jill Alberts

Molding together the old and the new, Jill Alberts creates one-of-a-kind luxury jewelry. From gold, lacey necklaces to pearl, pendant rings, each piece has a vintage quality about it that appeals to many of today’s fashionable clientele. The collections’ historical presence reminds present-day wearers of past luxuries that Jill continues to create today. These elegant pieces can be worn with anything from casual-wear to evening gowns.

Formally an American politics professor, Jill had a calling for jewelry design that she could not ignore. With a strong passion for antique and vintage pieces picked up at estate and flea markets, Jill expertly crafts old pieces into new designs. What started as a hobby turned into a career when boutique owners and buyers came to her asking for her pieces. In a little more than four years, Jill Alberts’ designs have been featured on celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst and Halle Berry. They have also become a personal favorite of actress Debra Messing.

Jill Alberts Jewelry can be found at fine retailers across the U.S. including Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Helen Yi in Chicago and Material Possessions in Chicago and Winnetka. A list of where to buy is located on the website.

Jill Alberts Jewelry
847-681-1630

www.jillalberts.com

Michelle Tan Designs - Michelle Tan

Michelle Tan Designs are refined yet adventurous. Crafted in basic colors, brown, blacks, and tans, Michelle takes risks in texture and fabric. Often leaving seams unfinished, her overall look is edgy and upscale. Looks are meant to be worn more than one way, transferring from one purpose to the next. This unusual combination has given her success in the Chicago market. Michelle opened her own boutique in Bucktown featuring her designs as well as a few hand-picked others.

Michelle started designing at the early age of eight. Her first design was made out of newspaper, since then she has moved onto silk, wool, and cashmere. A graduate of Chicago's International Academy of Merchandising and Design, Michelle has been successful right from the start. It wasn’t easy, but she eventually started to see a return on her designs. She plans to give back to Chicago fashion and help other emerging designers by providing space in her boutique for brand-new designers.

Michelle Tan
1872 N. Damen
Chicago, IL 60622
773-252-1888

Lara Miller LLC - Lara Miller

Versatility is the word the best describes Lara Miller’s collections. Her neutral-colored wraps, dresses, skirts and jackets are crafted for the individual wearer. Each piece has more than one way to be worn, allowing uniqueness in form and function. Specializing in knit wovens and comfortable jersey, her looks highlight the form of a woman’s body.

Beginning her career while still attending school at the Art Institute of Chicago, Lara gained success early on. She began showcasing at the local Chicago boutique p.45 years ago, allowing access for local press coverage of her work. She has been featured in publications such as Chicago Social and the Chicago Tribune. Lara has a true passion for her designs and brings innovation to the Chicago fashion scene. She is one of Chicago’s brightest design stars and will continue to shine for time to come.

Lara Miller’s designs can be found at several boutiques in Chicagoland including Ami Ami in Deerfield, Ananas in Oak Park, E. Street Boutique in Highland Park, and p.45 on Damen Ave. in Chicago.

Location: Lara Miller Studio
931 w. Cornelia #1b
Chicago, IL 60657
Phone: 773.296.4442
Web site: www.laramiller.net

Doris Ruth - Allie Adams

Doris Ruth combines vintage looks with a stylish appeal for a look that is feminine and flirty. With the signature tagline “please wear with heels,” these collections allude to female iconic images with an exceptional amount of grace and charm. Bright colors printed on classic cuts, pieces seem to be stolen from childhood dress-up time. Doris Ruth’s success has flourished over the past few years with designs featured in national magazines such as Elle, Lucky, and InStyle.

Allie Adams is the creative mind behind Doris Ruth. The company is named after her grandmother, to whom which Allie learned her fashion sense. She has been intrigued by fashion since birth, and began her career as a costume designer. Allie now creates ready-to-wear collections as well as custom looks for the individual client. She combines definitive, vintage looks with a little glitter and a lot of glam to create a one-of-a-kind look for the one-of-a-kind lady.
A list of Doris Ruth product carriers is available online. Chicagoland boutiques featuring Allie's designs include Fuchsia in Glen Ellyn, Sweet William in Hinsdale, and and Red Head Boutique in Chicago. A list of national Doris Ruth product carriers is available online. Chicagoland boutiques featuring Allie’s designs include Fuchsia in Glen Ellyn, Sweet William in Hinsdale, and Red Head Boutique in Chicago.

Location: 500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-527-1370
Web site: www.dorisruth.com

Maddie Powers - Jay Moore

Maddie Powers handbags and accessories make use of vintage and decorative images in design. Through the use of fiction, the overall look portrays a sense of mystery and sophistication. The product line ranges from clutches and wallets to t-shirts and hoodies. Since its creation, Maddie Powers has grown exponentially, with items now in stores all over the nation.

Jay Moore more or less fell into the fashion handbag industry when he discovered an inventive way to fix a purse leading him to create his signature bookpurse. Jay’s signature look has matched the growing interest in vintage looks, and he continues to push the envelope of design. Jay was one of the first fashion entrepreneurs at the CEC, becoming an integral part of the growing fashion industry in Chicago. He was featured as one of Macy’s 47 designers during Fashion Focus last month. His success at Maddie Powers has brought positive attention to the city and will continue to do so in the future.

Location: Maddie Powers, Inc.
720 W. Schubert, #3
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 1-800-GO-POWER

Web site: www.maddiepowers.com

A list of national Maddie Powers product carriers is available online. Chicago boutiques featuring Jay’s designs include Climate, Tribeca, and Unique So Chique.

Jane Hamill Boutique - Jane Hamill

Jane Hamill integrates a warm and friendly atmosphere into her boutique and in her designs. Jane strives to give her customers an inviting and comfortable experience at her shop, providing new pieces and individualized service. Featured in her boutique, her clothing designs are simple, feminine and cheerful. She believes in great customer service, leaving her customers craving to come back and shop again.

Born in Chicago, Jane grew up designing and sewing clothes for herself and her family. She studied fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and at the Esmod School of Design in Paris. A true entrepreneur at heart, Jane opened her boutique at the age of 25. Since then, she has acquired much success and has been featured in publications such as InStyle Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily and the Chicago Tribune. With everything cut, sewn and manufactured in Chicago, Jane Hamill designs and boutique are truly Chicago-made.

Jane Hamill clients are sophisticated yet fun-loving females with a knack for easy, flawless looks. Shop her boutique for cocktail attire, bridesmaid dresses, accessories and everyday wear.

Jane Hamill Boutique
1117 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL, 60614
773-665-1102

www.janehamill.com