Chicago Latino Fashion Week

Latino Fashion Week, Hair Productions Platform Showcase
Photo by Steve Starr, www.stevestarr.com

Latino Week has already kicked off, with the Monday, October 27th Latino Hair Productions Platform Showcase, Tuesday’s Latino Fashion Week Student Designer Contest, Wednesday’s AOL Fashionista Day: Rising Stars of Fashion, and Thursday’s San Juan Fashion Group. The terrific festivities came to an end at the close of Halloween weekend: the Friday Halloween Masquerade Ball, the Saturday International Showcase, and the Sunday El Fin.

Kiss-FM’s Nina Chantele hosted The Latino Hair Productions Platform Showcase on Monday, October 27. Top Latino cosmetologists and stylists competed and challenged their makeup artistry and hair styling skills at the Religion Night Club on 720 N. Wells. The spectacular competition was judged by a panel of local celebrities and industry pro’s.

Tuesday, October 28 marked the Stepping into the Spotlight, Student Designer Showcase for Latino Fashion Week. Four designs from each student finalist were showcased as the student designers took the stage hoping to win the title of the Top Latino student designer. Student designers included Estanislao Cabrera, Juliana Martinez, Hector-Javier MonArrez, and the winner Nora Del Busto. Nora Del Busto was declared the winner by a panel of celebrity and industry expert judges: Steven Rosengard, 2007 designer of Project Runway; Erikka Wang, Akira Clothing Chicago; Julie Gee, fashion buyer for Macy's; and our very own Henrique Kerch, publisher of Factio Magazine. The event was free and held at the Chicago for the Performing Arts.

AOL and UNSCENE magazine played the host for Wednesday, October 29th’s AOL Fashionista Day: Rising Stars of Fashion. Crobar nightclub set the scene for the sleek fashion show of rising star designers. The winner of the night was none other than Texas-born Horatio Nieto. The San Juan Fashion Group featured fashion designers from Puerto Rico. Designers included Felix Poll, Lilliam Landron and Tommie Hernandez. The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts held the event on Thursday, October 30. A portion of the nights proceeds also benefited MANA of Illinois.

The Halloween Masquerade Ball took place on Halloween night at Club Mannequin. The fashionable party featured theatrical masks and cinema inspired costumes. ABC7’s Silvia Perez hosted the marvelous masquerade.

Tsi-tsi-ki Félix from Telemundo Chicago hosted fashions from Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, and Argentina at the Alhambra Palace on Saturday night, November 1. The newest Latino collections raised money for Mujeres Latinas en Acción.

Chicago Latino designers showcased their Spring 2009 collections and couture designs inspired by their favorite Hollywood Screen Stars including Rita Hayworth, Maria Felix, Dolores Del Rio, Rita Moreno (who was in the audience), and Linda Carter during the grand finale show, Sunday, November 2. The all day Grand Finale took place at the Drake Hotel. Host, Silvia Perez from ABC7 opened the fashion show at 1:00 p.m.with featured designers James de Colón, Orlando Espinoza, Anna Fong, Elda de la Rosa, Carol Pineiro and Horacio Nieto. The proceeds from the day went to benefit the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago and the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Latino Film Festival.Latino Fashion Week was deemed a success, to be followed by the Latino Fashion Week The Magazine this fall.
- Jackie Medler

Latino Fashion Week, Hair Productions Platform Showcase
photo by David Pintor

Rising Stars of Fashion
photo by David Pintor

Jaslene Gonzalez, El Fin
photo by Factio Media

Nora Del Busto, El Fin
photo by Factio Media
Orlando Espinoza, El Fin
photo by Factio Media
Carol Pinero, El Fin
photo by Factio Media
Anna Fong, El Fin
Photo by Factio Media
Horacio Nieto, El Fin
Photo by Factio Media
James De Colon, El Fin
Photo by Factio Media
Elda De La Rosa, El Fin
Photo by Factio Media