Meet the Newest Incubator's in Chicago Fashion

The Incubator is heating up again. The mayor’s plan to elevate the Chicago fashion industry with the Macy’s Fashion Incubator is coming into its second year with a whole new batch of aspiring designers just waiting to take off. The Incubator provides the hopeful bunch with full-time office, showroom, and onsite production space. These designers in-the-making are overloaded with opportunity from Macy’s mentors to educating workshops to their very own spot in the Fashion Focus Chicago fall runway show.

2009 Designer Line-up:

Cynthia Ryba

Cynthia is no stranger to the fashion industry. The International Academy of Design and Technology Chicago grad was once the International Accessories Buyer for Claire’s Accessories, an intern for Cynthia Rowley, freelance milliner for Lenny Kravitz, Richard Driehaus Annual Fashion Show winner, and Fashion Group International award winner. Ryba’s latest inspiration is drawn from women who work in the office. “I was working in the Loop when I came across a problem from always having to go home and change to go out after work. I wanted to design clothing that could function as professional and cute. The Incubator is just the push I need to get my designs going” says Ryba.

Jess Audey

Jessica Audey is a Fashion Design graduate of Columbia College Chicago and previous designer at the Chicago custom handbag company 1154 Lill Studio. Jessica’s work is dedicated to fit and form. Audey explains,“I was frustrated with off the rack sizes and wanted to bring back designs that fit each body specifically. I’m especially obsessed with tight bodices with puffed skirts, and the whole custom-made experience.” The crafty designer most recently custom-made her own bridesmaid dresses for her wedding. Jess strives to combine her inspiration from timeless silhouettes into perfect fabric, fit, and design of each Audey creation. Adorable Audey custom-made dresses are available through the designer’s website: www.audey.com.

Ashley Zygmunt

Ashley Zygmunt started her fashion education at the School of Art Institute Chicago before she continued to Purdue and became the first Purdue Apparel major to study abroad in Hong Kong at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The Chicago-fashion native has previously interned and worked for Zac Posen and Peter Som. Zygmunt also derives experience from her time freelancing for Li and Fung USA in the Oxford collections division where she assisted with Norma Kamali for Wal-Mart, Just My Size, and White Stag Fast Fashion. Ashley’s newest line Zamrie concentrates on alluring details, graceful womanly form, and tailored-fit for women’s ready-to-wear.

Catherine Furio

Furio’s passion for working in retail and visual arts sparked her fashion career. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the Rhode Island School of Design, Furio has moved back to Chicago and into the Incubator to pursue her design career. In a short interview Catherine Furio disclosed that she sees her clothing as innovative with conceptual twists on classic designs. Furio has fun fusing different styles into her own new and unique pieces.

Alonzo Jackson

Alonzo or “Zoe” Jackson has stemmed his creations and knowledge from his pure fascination with the designing process. “I feel like I have already conquered streetwear and now I am ready to step it up a notch” says the successful Fashion Geek clothing founder. Alonzo is looking to start up a new line of classic and original designs for menswear after his 5 successful years with his streetwear line worn by award winning music sensations like Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Jermaine Dupree, Jagged Edge, and most recently on Young Jeezy in the XXL Magazine feature. This past 2008 Jackson’s Geek Clothing was accepted into the SLATE show at the Magic Fashion Trade show in Las Vegas where he exhibited the Fall/Winter collection to buyers worldwide.

Nora Del Busto

Nora Del Busto is the lawyer/marathon runner/ fashion designer that everyone is talking about. Del Busto’s architecture inspired pieces manipulate plain fabrics into structured one-of-a-kind pieces. Besides the Incubator, Nora is currently working as an apparel design assistant at Cintas. Nora enjoys exploring her creative side through precisely detailed fashion garments and is a current graduate of the International Academy of Design and Technology.

The night inside the Incubator also celebrated and bid farewell to all the “hatching” designers. The accomplished first inaugural class held a special sale featuring their name brand labels. The first class proved the Incubator to be a success and will continue to provide Kate Coxworth (label-Kate Boggiano), Yana German (label- Yana Collection to be sold at Macy’s), Agga Raya (label- AGGAB and private label for Fashion Heist), Kristen Hassan (label- OrganiK Revolution), Lidia Wachowska (label-Evil Kitty), and Glenn Mallory (label- 6Ace) with lifelong membership to the Macy’s Incubator accommodations.
-Jackie Medler

*photos by Factio Media