Meet the Who's Who of fashion,
Nora Jewett-Chicago Fashion Incubator Mentor and Fashion Consultant
Q: Tell us about what you do.
N: I am an Apparel Production & Design Consultant who supports designers and entrepreneurs with identifying a vision, drafting it, and ultimately creating and launching their clothing lines. From the design process to business aspects, including costing and making introductions to factories, I assist with all aspects of product development.
Q: How long have you been following this passion? What was the path that lead you here?
N: I've been working in the industry for the last 15 years, but specifically as a consultant for the last 6 years. It's been a long, crazy path that lead me here! I was an attorney before going back to school for design. After design school I worked for a uniform company before launching my own women's wear line.
Q: Where do you currently reside?
N: Kenilworth, IL
Q: Where did you grow up?
N: Bloomfield Hills, MI
Q: Do you have a favorite outfit from your childhood?
N: I can't think of one in particular, but I definitely had my favorites! Usually inspired by whatever my mom was wearing.
Q: Who has been a big influence in your life?
N: Definitely my parents
Q: What is something others may not know about you?
N: I never learned how to cook! I can't even make eggs. My husband does 100% of the cooking. :-)
Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about the fashion industry?
N: That it is glamorous and all about fashion shows and parties.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you can offer fashion designers?
N: It is different for every person. But, in general I would say not to sell yourself short. I see too many designers pricing their garments based on what they think other people would pay rather than basing it on what it actually costs to make. If you don't think something will sell at xx amount, then don't make it! Don't just price it lower in order to sell.
#chicagofashion #chicagofashionincubator
#fashiondesigner
#womenownedbusiness #womenownedsmallbusiness #womensupportingwomen #ethicalfashion
Meet this week's Who's Who of fashion, Jenny Wible.
Q: Tell us about what you do.
J: I am a second grade teacher at Faith, Hope and Charity in Winnetka.
Q: How long have you lived in the Chicago area?
J: I have lived in the Chicago area most of my life. I grew up in Western Springs, went to high school in Connecticut and moved back to Chicago after college. I have lived in Evanston for 27 years.
Q: Tell us about a childhood memory.
J: My favorite childhood memory is simply all of the freedom that we had to play outside, go to friends' homes in the neighborhood and run home when we heard dinner bells ringing.
Q: Do you have a favorite outfit from your childhood?
J: My favorite childhood outfit was one of the corniest ones imaginable. It was a polyester red dress with white polka dots. I wore it to every junior high school basketball game as I cheered on our team from the Pep Club section.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
J: Reading, biking, traveling, spending time in nature
Q: Who is someone that influences you on a daily basis?
J: Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones. I am intrigued by what has lead people in these different "blue zones" live to be in their hundreds. It has made me think about my diet, and the importance of meaningful work and friendships.
Q: What is your favorite board or card game?
J: Scrabble
Q: Tell us something others may not know about you.
J: I am learning how to play the guitar. I love music, but am not gifted when it comes to playing an instrument.
Q: What is your absolute favorite go-to outfit? The one that makes you feel your best!
J: This is really difficult to choose, but I'd say jeans, a cute top and fun shoes. You can wear that almost anywhere now. This is a huge reason why I love the Qui t-shirts so much. They are so classic, versatile and yet have that added quirkiness with the vintage fabric.
Q: What are three words that best describe you?
J: positive, curious, collaborative
Q: What one word would you use to describe your Qui tee?
J: essential
Q: Can you share how you used your $5 gift that came with the tee?
J: I gave it to the first person I saw selling Streetwise.
#essentialtee
#shoplocal
Up every staircase, behind each door and through every window there is a story to be discovered.
The same is true for every garment made; many hands have touched it on it’s journey to you-the consumer. At Qui Collection we honor them by sharing their stories along with yours.
#whomademyclothes
#shoplocal
#chicagofashion
#chicagofashionincubator
#ethicalfashion
#sustainablefashion
Meet the Who's Who of fashion-
KK Cleland
Q: What do you do?
KK: I am in higher education leading a team that establishes partnerships with corporations to develop workforce development solutions and educational benefits for their employees.
Q: How long have you lived in Chicago?
KK: I attended graduate school in Evanston at Northwestern University over 30 years ago and later moved to Chicago to start my career in advertising.
Q: Where did you grow up?
KK: I grew up in Sioux City, IA
Q: Tell us about a childhood memory.
KK: I have the best memories of road trips and vacations my parents and I took across country. My father loved to drive. Some of our best trips were to Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, New Orleans, and Orlando.
Q: Do you have a favorite outfit from your childhood?
KK: I attended Catholic grade school through high school where we wore various styles of Catholic plaid, so I didn't have a huge wardrobe growing up. I had a favorite maroon dress in high school that I wore to my voice and speech competitions. The dress was in the style of Princess Diana(and I had the haircut to match!)
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
KK: Traveling, seeing live theater/dance/music, nights out for dinner with friends, and early evening walks.
Q: Who is someone that influences you on a daily basis?
KK: My mother! Growing up as an only child, I had a special relationship with my mom. I am so grateful that, despite our physical distance, we have remained close and she is truly one of the most loving, generous and strong women I know.
Q: What is your favorite game?
KK: I grew up loving the game Clue-especially when I played with my grandmother. There was always a board game or card game around her dining room table.
Q: What is something we don't know about you?
KK: I always wanted to own a gift shop called Little Things.
Q: What is your favorite go-to outfit?
KK: I love winter-wearing turtleneck sweaters and adding a great, vintage pin!
Q: What three words best
describe you?
KK: Curious, loyal, feisty
Q: What one word describes your Qui tee?
KK: Yummy!
Q: How did you use your $5 gift that came with the tee?
KK: The Greater Chicago Food Depository
Meet the Who's Who of fashion...
Susan Matejka, Consultant and Executive Coach
Q: Tell us about what you do.
S: I have been a consultant for 30 years; the past 12 of those have been spent working with non-profits. Our team predominantly provides fundraising services, we pride ourselves on partnering with our clients to make organizations stronger. As an Executive Coach, I work with seasoned and emerging leaders from a broad array of backgrounds and businesses.
Q: How long have you lived in the Chicago area?
S: I have lived in/around the city for the past 36 years.
Q: Where did you grow up?
S: I grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Q: Tell us about a childhood memory.
S: Our parents would pack all six kids in the car and drive to Chicago for the day. These adventures included museum visits, shopping on Michigan Ave., or even trips to O'Hare to watch the planes take off.
Q: Do you have a favorite outfit from your childhood?
S: When I was 8, we took a trip to New York and I used all of my allowance to buy a navy, denim-like dress. It had wide, white stitching, a pocket on the front and a hood. I absolutely loved it!
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
S: I spend time daily on my Peloton. I love to travel, spend time with family and shop!
Q: Who is someone that influences you on a daily basis?
S: My husband, Mark. He has a zest for life and loves to learn. He is fun, witty and, a great chef!
Q: What is your favorite board or card game?
S: It's hard to pick just one! I love a good game of gin or Yahtzee. I also love jigsaw puzzles.
Q: Tell us something others may not know about you.
S: Both my undergrad and my Master's degrees are in Psychology, which comes in handy every day.
Q: What is your absolute favorite go-to outfit? The one that makes you feel your best! (Be honest...it can be your jammies.)
S: Most days, I wear a dress and a fun pair of shoes.
Q: What three words would you use to describe yourself?
S: thoughtful, diligent, empathetic
Q: What word best describes your Qui tee?
S: timeless
Q: Can you share how you used your $5 gift that came with the tee?
S: I gave it to one of the folks working the ramp in the city. #womenentrepreneur
Something about these colors remind me of the water and sand…
@winifredgrace@quicollection
#chicagofashion #chicagofashionincubator #summerfashion2022 #oneandonly #shoplocal #andersonville #vintagefabric #softesttees
It's baseball season! Know a baseball fan?
Our kids tees have pockets made from vintage and repurposed fabric. All the better to hold rocks, shells, trains, goldfish, pokeman...
-100% organic cotton
-sizes 2T-6/7
-one-of-a-kind
DM for sizes and fabric options
#vintage #chicagofashion #kidstees #childrenstees #vintagefabric #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion #shoplocal #womanownedbusiness #barkcloth
Did you know that the Chicago Fashion Incubator began in 2008 as an initiative by Mayor Richard M. Daley?
The idea was to have a place that used the resources and opportunities available in Chicago to help aspiring local fashion designers build sustainable businesses that can compete in the global fashion industry.
Did you know that the CFI is a 501(C)(3) and is located in the pedway of the historic Macy's on State Street Building?
Did you know that several CFI alums have competed on Project Runway?
Pam Kendall, the founder of Qui Collection was accepted into The Chicago Fashion Incubator Designer-In-Residence Program in January of 2021. Benefitting greatly from the support and mentorship offered through this program and under the leadership of Anna Hovet Dias, Qui Collection tees can be now found in several Chicago stores.
@florodorastores@winifredgrace@shopexhibitwilmette
#chicagofashion
#chicagofashionincubator
#shoplocal
#localdesigner
#macys
Looking for something fun to do-
how about a shopping tour of some of Chicagoland's most unique boutiques?
Designed for comfort and longevity and flattering on every body type; Qui tees do not conform to trendiness or seasonality.
They are designed to celebrate individuality as every tee is detailed with a hand-embroidered appliqué made from reclaimed fabric giving each one a story of its own.
Same as our tees each of these boutiques has its own unique personality.
@shopexhibitwilmette@florodorastores@winifredgrace
#softesttee
#slowfashion
#whomademyclothes
#sustainablefashion
#ethicalfashion
#shoplocal
#chicagofashion
#chicagofashionincubator
Meet the Who's Who of fashion...
Winifred Grace, owner of Winifred Grace in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.
Q: How long have you owned your shop?
W: 8 years! I'm currently planning an epic anniversary celebration!
Q: Have you always been interested in fashion?
W: Yes! But not in the way many are. I don't know much about designers and the history of fashion. I simply appreciate how clothes can make you feel.
Q: I understand that previously you were a jewelry designer. Do you still design jewelry?
W: In 2003 I left my job as a graphic designer to start designing jewelry full-time. I designed and made everything and sold by way of private trunk shows, boutiques and my website. 15 years ago I hired a production manager and she's still with me today, managing the shop! I no longer design, but many of my designs are still produced by a team of women at a workshop in Mexico, and those pieces are still some of our best sellers.
Q: Where did you grow up?
W: Born in DC, moved to Miami, Florida when I was 3 and lived there until I was 10. My family then moved to Atlanta where I graduated from high school. My mom still lives down there and I just love visiting especially in March because they have the Spring Chicago doesn't!
Q: What is your favorite thing about Chicago? Andersonville?
W: That's easy: The people. And Lake Michigan. Andersonville is where I live and started my family, so opening the shop here fulfilled a fantasy for me: riding my bike or walking to work, saying hello to other shop owners as they open up for the day. It's charming and village-like filled with the most down-to-earth authentic humans doing really interesting things.
Q: What three words would you use to describe yourself?
W: Spontaneous. Imaginative. Enthusiastic.
Q: When you aren't in your shop or working what do you enjoy doing?
W: Biking through the city with my husband and our 10 year old son. Snuggling with our dog, Beepers. Gardening. Yoga. And dreaming up my next creative venture.
Winifred Grace now carries a small batch of limited edition Qui tees.
#chicagofashion #andersonvillechicago #womenentrepreneur #shopsmall #shoplocal #chicagofashionincubator
