BY Serra Kook
City Chic
As a world-class arts destination, Chicago is home to a community of talented designers regularly pushing boundaries and transforming the fashion industry. Inspired by the city’s cultural diversity, richness and grandeur, these Windy City artisans are redefining the fashion world — from producing contemporary ready-to-wear collections to custom-made garments.
Maria Pinto
Maria Pinto is a visionary designer whose entrepreneurial spirit blossomed early. As an adolescent, her curious demeanor sparked a great passion for visual art, leading her to later study fashion and fine arts at the university level.
Her entry into the fashion world began with an internship in New York under the guidance of famous designer Geoffrey Beene. Upon her return to Chicago, Pinto launched a line of embroidered and beaded scarves that sold in high-end stores like Barneys, Saks, Ultimo and Bergdorf Goodman, and worn by no less of a style icon than Mick Jagger.
Today, Pinto is among Chicago’s most prominent and cutting-edge designers, operating with the goal of creating pieces that allow women to look stylish and feel empowered. Her designs — which continuously explore how fashion can become more accessible and practical — are known for their timeless, stylish appeal. By producing long-lasting, machine-washable, ready-to-wear designs, Pinto intends her garments to endure over seasons and trends.
Pinto was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2017 from the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. Her work can be found online or in her boutique in River North.
Anastasia Chatzka
Anastasia Chatzka’s journey into fashion began as a youth with a quest for the perfect pair of bell bottoms. Determined to handcraft what could not be found, Chatzka’s mother one day took her on a trip to a nearby fabric store and set her up on a sewing machine, placing her on the path to becoming one of Chicago’s most prominent women’s wear designers to date.
Growing up immersed in Detroit’s music and art scenes, Chatzka often found inspiration in such music icons as Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love, all of whose flair and bold demeanors deeply resonated with her, ultimately shaping her designs. Uniquely blending themes of music, art and a DIY (do it yourself) spirit, Chatzka’s garments are distinguished for their exploratory use of bright colors, captivating patterns and rich textures.
After formal training with renowned designers like Betsey Johnson and Anna Sui, Chatzka started her eponymous clothing line, consisting of innovative and feminine ready-to-wear designs. For over a decade, Chatzka owned and operated boutiques where she sold her collection and did the heavy lifting when it came to sampling, trade shows, photo shoots, mentoring and more.
Wanting to spread her passion for sewing and extensive fashion knowledge, Chatzka would later open Sew Anastasia, a fashion design school located on the Near West Side. Today, the multifaceted fashion expert splits her time designing custom garments, producing sewing tutorials on YouTube for her 125,000 subscribers and teaching sewing skills to adults and youth in the evenings — inspiring up-and-coming designers locally and worldwide.
Borris Powell
Born and raised in Piedmont, Ala., Borris Powell’s passion for fashion was evident from a young age. During his youth, Powell would often see his mother garbing for a night out or church visit, laying the foundation for his own interest in color, style and silhouette. Experimenting with the sewing machine whenever he had the opportunity, Powell was soon on his way to becoming a self-trained fashion maker.
In 1997, Powell moved to Chicago to kickstart his design career. Without the means to attend fashion school, he enrolled in a sewing class at a Joann Fabric store. With a steadfast determination, a solid commitment to design and encouragement from loved ones, Powell’s dreams would take shape.
Today, Powell is an acclaimed fashion-forward designer who can do it all. Celebrated both for his custom dresses and ready-to-wear garments, Powell’s collections consist of men’s and women’s wear, dynamic for their tailoring, innovative detailing, specialty fabrics and meticulous craft. By appointment, you can visit his boutique in suburban Evergreen Park. Beyond his creative endeavors, Powell is also active in philanthropy, working to provide educational resources in art and fashion to children from underserved communities.
Elda De La Rosa
Elda De La Rosa is among Chicago’s most notable designers, famed for her creativity, attention to detail and strong client relationships. Coming from a bloodline of artisans, her passion for design bloomed early.
Some of her earliest interactions with wardrobe date back to when she was a young girl observing fittings and dress consultations in a family member’s home. From there, it was expected that De La Rosa would become a devoted craftswoman and designer, producing wear that not only changed the landscape of fashion but accentuated the confidence of those she dressed.
De La Rosa garnered a large following after her finalist ranking in the 2010 Oscars Designer Challenge, a competition for designers to have their wardrobe worn on stage at that year’s Academy Awards. With her newfound national and international recognition, De La Rosa’s atelier became one of Chicago’s most serviced.
Today, she is known for her intentional design and trained eye, with her garments distinguished for their classic flair and modern feminine twist. From wedding dresses to everyday attire, De La Rosa produces a versatile collection suitable for every occasion.
