Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/809106
POWER PLAYERS Luxe lingerie: Chicago-made silk beach pajamas ($695) from Department of Curiosities, a new brand of nightwear by Production Mode designer Jamie Hayes. GUILT- FREE FASHION STYLISH, SOCIALLY- RESPONSIBLE FASHION IS ALL THE RAGE IN CHICAGO THANKS TO THESE FORWARD- THINKING AND FABULOUS LOCAL WOMEN. BY LAUREN EPSTEIN The fashion industry has been under scrutiny for years, as consumers have questioned the ethicality of materials and manufacturing processes. But now, thanks to big names like Stella McCartney, sustainable style is no longer synonymous with ill-fitting pieces in granola- beige and moss-green. The movement is gaining momentum right here in Chicago, spearheaded by four local women who are changing the business—one ethical ensemble at a time. It was a chance encounter that pushed designer Liz Williams into the outerwear business. Her line, Coat Check Chicago (Cinnamon Boutique, 2104 W. Roscoe St., 773-281-2466; coatcheck chicago.com), was inspired by a coat attendant who admired Williams's handmade, self- designed winter coat. "[We] embrace a slow-fashion approach," Williams explains, "[focusing] on longevity and good design to address environmental impact." That is, her Chicago-crafted pieces are made to last—unlike the disposable fast-fashion finds PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH ANN WRIGHT. HAIR AND MAKEUP: VICTORIA PERCIVAL. MODEL: ALESSIA VACCARO MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 75 STYLE OF THE CIT Y