2023
DESIGNERS-IN-RESIDENCE
AUSTIN DIPADOVA
BREAKFRONT
While studying fashion at Western Michigan University, Austin did a product development internship in New York City. Since graduating, he’s expanded his knowledge of manufacturing and is ready to fulfill his dream of having his own fashion line.
His tailored brand, Breakfront, is set to launch later this year. The nonbinary line is focused on ornate detailing and vintage aesthetics.
Austin joined Chicago Fashion Incubator in Winter 2023.
CHRISTOPHER DAUS
NICE AS HECK
Christopher Daus grew up outside more than in, fascinated by natural design. Tired of his classmates wearing the same brands, he began the lifestyle label Nice as Heck at sixteen. After studying film and fashion design at Syracuse University, he moved to Los Angeles with his partners to produce the line’s clothes domestically. He explores the intersection of fashion and film.
Nice as Heck is a contemporary label inspired by outdoor recreation, committed to creating quality, functional goods intended for—but not limited to—use in nature.
Christopher joined Chicago Fashion Incubator in Winter 2023.
www.niceasheck.com
ROMANCE ANASTASA
QUEENDOM BY ROMANCE
While working at Macy’s in 2009, Romance Anastasa was assigned to the lingerie department partially due to her name. During this experience, she discovered her passion for lingerie and began the journey to educate herself on the inner workings of lingerie fashion. After working as a nurse for over 5 years and many years of self-education, she decided to launch Queendom by Romance in the Bronzeville neighborhood in 2015.
Queendom by Romance is a black-owned small business that aims to provide quality, fully functional lingerie to women of all body types.
Romance’s retail store and in-house label are now exclusively available online, which have a celebrity following and has been featured in many fashion & local magazines.
www.queendombyromance.com
JULIA GAWRON
JULIA GAWRON ATELIER
From a young age, Polish-American Julia Gawron developed an eye for color and texture allowing her to turn her aspirations for fashion design into a reality. After studying Fashion Design at AI – The Art Institute of Schaumburg and Harper College, Julia started Julia Gawron Atelier in 2020. The brand specializes in outerwear and faux-fur jackets handcrafted with selected luxury faux fur.
In a fast fashion world, Julia strives to pay homage to luxury fashion choices at a more feasible cost.
Julia also specializes in custom measurements, pattern work, grading, and sourcing of textiles. She joined Chicago Fashion Incubator in Winter 2022.
www.juliagawronatelier.com
JEAN
SPELLMAN
HEYDEN
Jean is a marketing and finance professional who has aways been passionate about clothing and the way it makes a person feel. Throughout her life, she has fueled this passion, be it sewing garments for school projects and herself, or taking classes in construction and textiles at the Illinois Institute of Art and Fashion Illustration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
In a sea of sameness and fast fashion, Heyden is an oasis of thoughtful pieces with strong attention to detail and quality.
Heyden is a brand of edgy-professional women’s clothing that makes its wearers feel confident and interesting – like they can crush it, day to night. Heyden pieces maximize cost-per-wear, season after season, year after year.
shopheyden.com
MAYURI BAHETI
MOR COLLECTIONS
Mayuri has a B.S. in Accounting & Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as well as an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth. In 2022 Mayuri founded MOR Collections, a direct-to-consumer womenswear brand that offers a better way to enjoy South Asian fashion. The line includes timeless fashion essentials and versatile statement pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits with just a handful of pieces. The brand focuses every second of every day to help their customers do MOR with their wardrobes
Frustrated by a lack of South Asian clothing options that were both stylish and versatile, Mayuri launched MOR Collections to redefine the shopping experience for South Asian fashion.
Mayuri joined Chicago Fashion Incubator in Winter 2023.
www.morcollections.com
DESIGNERS-IN-RESIDENCE
ALUMNI 2008-2022
Jess Audey
Liz Bahl
Anna Brown
Kate Boggiano
Miriam Cecilia -Carlson
Sarah Church
Concetta Cipriano
brooke conrady
Nora Del Busto-Jewett
shavonne dorsey
Leah Fagan
Christina Fan
Rachel Frank
Catherine Furio
Yana German Agnes Hamerlik Cara Maria Farella
Anna Hovet
Alonzo Jackson
Alyssa K. Kahle Barbara Keisman
Eric Kipp
Shruti Kirti
Stephanie Kuhr
grace lee-lim
Glenn Mallory
kahindo mateene Christina Monley Adilah Muhammad
Lagi Nadeau
Katelyn Pankoke
Taneasha Prunty Agga B Raya Kpoene’ kofi-nicklin
Jonnie Rettele
Kristin Rosynek-Hassan
Cynthia Ryba
Victoria sdoukos
Crystal Simms RAKAN SHAMS-ALDEEN
Donaldo Smith
Shelby Steiner
Masha Titievsky Lidia Wachowska OlivIA wang latonya williams
conner writt
Takako Yamanaka
Gabrielle Zwick
ashley zygmuNt Goli Parvinian
