FashioNext is an ongoing, ground-breaking fashion design competition featuring established Chicago designers. Participants are challenged to design garments inspired by select pieces from the costume collection of the Chicago History Museum.

Follow the Competition

In its second year, FashioNext participants face a new challenge. In conjunction with the upcoming exhibition I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot, opening May 22, 2010, designers will create wedding gowns constructed solely with fabric provided by Brentano, a Chicago-based interior design textile company.

> Learn more about I Do!

Selecting a Winner

The winning gown will be announced at the finale event, go on display in I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot, and become part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

2010 FashioNext Designers

Eight Chicago-based designers submitted sketches in December 2009: James de Colon, Caroline DeVillo, Elda De La Rosa, Anna Fong, Holly Greenhagen of Dame Couture, Jane Hamidi of Palazzo Bridal, Carla Hwang and Kenneth Park from VWIDON, and Katrin Schnabl.

Announced on February 1, 2010, the competition was narrowed down to three uniquely inspired designs. This year’s finalists are Caroline DeVillo, Carla Hwang and Kenneth Park from VWIDON, and Katrin Schnabl.

> View the finalists' design sketches and all the inspiration pieces on Flickr

Learn More About This Year’s Finalists

> Caroline DeVillo

> Carla Hwang and Kenneth Park from VWIDON

> Katrin Schnabl

FashioNext Finale

Thursday, June 24, 7:00 p.m.

Curator Timothy Long will host the finale to the competition, in which the three finalists share their inspirations and experiences as models showcase their gowns. The winner will be announced live. A cocktail reception follows the program.

Cost:
$35; $30 members; $15 students.

> Purchase tickets

Join the Conversation on Our Blog

> FashioNext Finalist: Caroline DeVillo (02/17/2010)

> FashioNext: 2010 Finalists (02/01/2010)

> FashioNext: Finding the Right Fabric (12/15/09)

> FashioNext Inspiration Wedding Gowns (11/03/09)

> All FashioNext posts on the Museum blog

Follow the Competition on Twitter and Facebook

> Chicago History Museum on Twitter

> Chicago History Museum on Facebook

FashioNext Judges

• D. Graham Kostic, Style Editor, Modern Luxury Magazines, LLC
• Tim Long, Curator of Costumes, Chicago History Museum
• Roger Price and Tommy Walton, Price Walton, FashioNext 2009 winners
• Andrea Kalish Reynders, Professor, Department of Fashion Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Gaynor Strachan-Chun, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Ovation TV
• Noren Ungaretti, President, Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society
• Cassie Walker, Senior Editor, Chicago Magazine
• Iris Wang, Vice-President, Design and Marketing, Brentano

Sponsors and Partners

Ovation TV is the only multi-platform network devoted to art and contemporary culture. The network creates and curates one-of-a-kind programming about all the art people enjoy most, from the popular to the avant-garde and everything in between. Ovation TV is available in Chicago on Comcast Channel 182 and reaches a national audience of 35 million households through carriage on DirecTV (channel 274), Dish Network (channel 157) and cable and telco systems. Ovation TV’s popular website www.OvationTV.com is a dynamic experience, featuring information about local and national happenings in the art world, as well as a vibrant community of artists who have uploaded over 100,000 pieces of original art. Ovation TV and Comcast are the presenting sponsors of FashioNext.

The Museum has partnered with Brentano Fabrics, a Chicago-based textile company that manufactures fabrics according to their philosophy of balancing beauty + performance, Brentano’s design team pushes the boundaries of patterns, materials, weaves, and color while maintaining usability. They also produce a range of eco-fabrics under their Brentano Green label. Brentano is the exclusive fabric provider for this design competition.

Frost began more than thirty years ago as a special event lighting company. Since that time it has grown into a national company with offices in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Florida. From the simplest intimate event to the most complex international gala, Frost professionals offer a variety of services from within the company, and in collaboration with allied event professionals worldwide. Frost Lighting is the official lighting and event company for FashioNext.

The Museum also recognizes the Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society, Food For Thought Catering, Chicagoland Mercedes-Benz Dealers, and Chicago Magazine for their support of FashioNext.