Four capitals come to mind when thinking about fashion week: New York, Paris, Milan and London. But there’s another city that hosts a world class fashion week of its own: Chicago.
Chicago Fashion Week might not be as big as the others, but it puts a spotlight on a fashion scene that often flies under the radar. Compared to the global reach of the big four, Chicago Fashion Week feels more grounded and personal.
This year marks the third annual Chicago Fashion Week, running Oct. 8-18. The event spanned locations all over the city, from art galleries like the Zhou B Art Center to fabric stores like Fishermans Fabrics.
Two events that showed the creativity and personality behind Fashion Week came in the form of “Stories, a Fashion-in-Motion Event” and “Surround Sound of Fashion.”
Fashion comes to life through ‘Stories’ and motion
Stories, a Fashion-in-Motion Event, was no ordinary runway — it was an artistic production put on by Stephanie Nugent, the founder and designer of Indyvin, a sustainable clothing brand.
Using her background from a 30-year career in experimental dance, Nugent incorporated body movement to showcase the clothes she designed. The show started with an interpretive dance solo performed by Nugent herself.
The fall 2026 collection included many different pieces such as dresses, pants, blouses, jackets, skirts and even overalls. An array of stunning silhouettes and playful patterns displayed the collection’s blend of creativity and sustainability.
One standout garment was a series of overalls that could be unzipped and worn as a jacket by slipping your arms into the pant legs.
Whimsy, quirky and boho are all words that could be used to describe the eclectic assortment of clothes created using deadstock materials — leftover fabrics that would otherwise go unused.
Clashing patterns, layering and patchwork all offered dreamlike eye candy.
Through their fluid and graceful body movement, the models brought another layer of artistry to the runway, bringing the designers’ vision to life. The flow of their bodies portrayed the fantastical garments, creating a narrative of their own.
The best part of the show was its intimate charm. The production made it clear the designer put copious time and effort into not only the clothes themselves, but also how they looked as they moved down the runway.
Turning up the volume to Chicago Fashion Week
Since 2008, the Fashion Motion Picture has lit up the Chicago fashion scene. “Surround Sound of Fashion” is one of the city’s longest-running independent fashion shows, blending music and culture into one.
The event featured nine different designers, from fresh faces in the fashion world to industry veterans. Mostly local designers were featured, including DSNR ZOH, J’en Restyle Fashion and Tedela, to name a few.
With two hosts — a model and comedian — and three different musical acts — two DJs and a saxophonist — there was never a dull moment during the show.
The hosts kept the energy high while the musical acts provided a lively soundtrack for the models as they walked the runway, keeping the audience constantly entertained even between designers.
While most designers put their unique spin on fashion, a bassline of streetwear wove them together.
Most collections were ready-to-wear with an avant-garde twist. Fur coats, upcycled jackets and dresses and experimental leather garments were just a few hits.
FGM Bespoke, a brand known for their furs, closed their runway collection with a giant white fox-tail fur statement coat.
As the closing event for Chicago Fashion Week, “Surround Sound of Fashion” had some high expectations to meet — and it didn’t disappoint.
Together, the two shows offered a glimpse into the creativity and personality within Chicago’s fashion scene. Yet, they were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to all that Chicago Fashion Week had to offer.
