Chicago Fashion Incubator: Out with the old, in with the new

Last night at Macy’s, six designers who were chosen to participate in the second year of the Chicago Fashion Incubator were ushered into the program as  last year’s class said goodbye.

Among this year's six youngsters—Cynthia Ryba, Jess Audey, Ashley Zygmunt, Catherine Furio, Alonzo Jackson and Nora del Busto—I have my eye on a few in particular. Audey showed a cocktail dress with a 1950s silhouette, perfect for the Mad Men-obsessed set though I’d be happy to see her tone down the costume-y fabric selection (a blood red petticoat was peeking out beneath the two-tone, graphic-printed dress). Zygmunt, who just moved back from New York a few weeks ago after finding out she’d been accepted to the program, showed one of the more attention-grabbing pieces on display:  a brown cape with an layered, architectural collar. If you’ve ever been to Leaders 1354, you’ll recognize Jackson’s streetwear-meets-geekwear Fashion Geek Clothing: bright colored tees and cardigans bearing the four-eyed duck mascot. But Jackson says he’s looking to transition his line into a sleeker look this year.

As for the class of 2008, the designers are plugging away. Jet-setting Agga Raya is working on three lines already; Kate Coxworth will begin testing her custom shirting program; Kate Boggiano at a wholesale level for spring; Yana German will continue selling her line Yana Collection at Macy’s; and Kristen Hassan, the young lady behind Organik Revolution, sells her work online.

To everyone, good luck!