Chicago Fashion Week on the Horizon

Chicago Fashion Week (CHI✶FW) is not just an event—it’s a movement. A convergence of culture and couture, CHI✶FW celebrates the vibrant and unique story of Chicago’s fashion identity.

For 12 dynamic days, Chicago’s fashion scene takes center stage through runways, exhibitions, in-store events, and more. As the city’s sartorial spirit unfolds, it reveals a rich tapestry that draws on Chicago’s storied past while pushing forward into a sustainable, communal future.

This year’s lineup is nothing short of impressive. Individual designer showcases from the likes of Elda de la Rosa, Barbara Bates, and CWilli sit alongside collectives such as The Curio’s "Celebration of Chicago Style," Minted Media Productions' "Chicago Fashion Showcase," and Runway Latinx's "The Shadows in the Light". Add to that FGI Chicago’s "10th Rising Star Awards," our own "Mayan Textiles: Art, Traditions, and Technique", and a host of museum collections, and there’s something for everyone.

Though Chicago may be known as the nation’s “Second City,” its fashion vision firmly stands in first place. Spanning 14 counties across three states, CHI✶FW showcases the city’s eclectic style, as diverse as the 77 neighborhoods that define its urban landscape. This celebration of fashion weaves together the fabric of Chicago, creating a united love for style that speaks to every corner of the city—from bold streetwear to refined haute couture.

Fashion events extend beyond the city limits as well, including the reFashioning History exhibit at the Dawes House in Evanston, the College of DuPage’s student exhibition at Oakbrook Center, Cloth+Home’s "Threaded Stories" at the Women’s Club of Evanston, and Kameo Vintage’s "Elements of Style" at the Laughlin Gallery in Highland Park.

Chicago Fashion Week’s leadership has successfully woven these diverse stories into one powerful narrative. From emerging designers to established brands, CHI✶FW celebrates the vibrant, innovative, and inclusive fashion culture that makes Chicago stand out.

As Mayor Brandon Johnson put it, "It’s time for fashion to take its real place in Chicago. But it also has to be measured with many of the other dynamic things that make Chicago the amazing city it is. Whether it is the architecture, the theater, the music, the culinary arts, all these different entities and disciplines get national representation, and fashion deserves that as well."

CHI✶FW is more than just fashion shows—it’s an invitation to experience the essence of Chicago. It’s where heritage and modernity meet, where new looks are born, and where the world comes to witness the fashion future of the Second City.

Visit chicagofashionweek.com to stay updated on the latest events and join in on the celebration.

With love, from the city wearing its story.

Follow the journey on Instagram by following @thechicagofashionweek, #ChiFashionWeek, and #312Fashion