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

Chicago Designer Horacio Nieto Part of AOL Latino's Fashionista Show

Horatio Nieto

Take Project Runway, get rid of host Heidi Klum and replace her for Venezuelan Actress Patricia Velásquez and switch all of the fashion contenders with blooming Latino fashion designers and we have ourselves a new, saucy show. One of our very own, Chicago fashion designer Horacio Nieto is part of the show on AOL Latino's "Fashionista" and has a one in three chance to win the design competition. We've caught up with him to learn about the competition, about what it's like to be a Chicago fashion designer who is Latino and to get a first look at his fall collection.

RUNWAYTORETAIL.COM: What is it like to be part of AOL Latino Fashionista?
HORACIO NIETO: It's a great experience to be on AOL Latino Fashionista. You work hard as a designer to put your name out there and then this opportunity comes and it's a wonderful feeling.

RTR: Tell us about being a Chicago fashion designer.
HN: Being a Chicago designer, I feel you have to work a little harder because the fashion industry we have here is not as big as some other big cities, but it's getting there. I think the national impression doesn't know that there is so much talent in Chicago, because we are in the Midwest they tend to overlook us.

RTR: Tell us about your fall collection.
HN: My fall collection is a combination of modernism with an Elizabethean feeling, but not in the literal meaning. I wanted pieces that had style lines that were strong, but yet very feminine.

RTR: What are some of the benefits about being a Latino fashion designer?
HN: I think some of the benefits would be that we use rich, vibrant colors that most people wouldn't wear because Latino culturals use them on a regular basis. There are certain dress styles that some women would not wear, but a Latino woman would look fantastic in it.

RTR: What is something people don't know about you?
HN: Some people may not know that I used to dance Mexican Folk Dancing (also know as "folklorico). I started when I was in high school and continued when I moved to Chicago. I danced with the Mexican Dance Ensemble for about two years here in Chicago.