The Italian Expo Renaissance Chefs' Shows

Come see eight emerging Chicago designers compete before our esteemed panel of judges to win a trip to Milan for 2012 Fashion Week!

The participating Italian Fashion Exchange Competition designers are:

Alma Wieser - Renovar (www.almawieser.com)
Chicago's reigning queen of vintage, designer Alma Wieser started Renovar in 2005. The word Renovar is Spanish for renovate, to make new again. Renovar's objectives are to create with the craftsmanship of the old world fashion houses. Alma believes in the time it takes to create beauty and the precise science of construction. The result is "wearable art," which is clothing that looks created rather than produced.

Crystal B. Simms - Crystal B. Designs (www.facebook.com/CrystalBDesigns)
Crystal B. Simms is an avant-garde fashion designer who owns Crystal B. Designs, a fashion design company that specializes in wholesale and custom-made clothing and caters to professional women who like young and trendy styles. Crystal's design specialty is fusing architectural elements with the female silhouette to positively enhance the feminine features in a woman. Currently, Crystal is one of the six designers in residence with Macy's Chicago Fashion Incubator Program.

Britney Petrina Devaris - Britney Devaris (www.facebook.com/pages/Britney-Devaris/182189535138423) Rising Chicagoland designer Britney Petrina Devaris says her mission is to provide "not only quality but an original design that creates an unforgettable wearing experience for those who wear my pieces and for those who see them." Britney's fashion line includes women's wear, special occasion clothing, performance wear, and stage and Halloween costumes.

Michelle Tan - Michelle Tan (www.michelletan.com)
Chicago native Michelle Tan graduated from the International Academy of Design and Technology in 1999 and she launched her self-debuted clothing line in 2000. Tan sought inspiration for her line from fabrics in Asia where she traveled after graduation. Michele, who has won numerous accolades for her designs, says, "I create dresses with different, fun things that are unique, but that can be worn more than one time." The Michelle Tan collection is sold internationally and is carried in more than 60 stores, including Michelle's two Chicago boutiques.

Christina Fan - C/Fan (www.cfan-designs.com)
Designer Christina Fan launched her line, C/FAN in 2008. She studied history at Northwestern University, but found that she was drawn to the world of fashion and design. C/FAN collections all draw upon various inspirations from the world of art, music, film, and pop culture. Each collection has a narrative character or central theme. C/FAN began as a collection of winter coasts and basic t-shirts and has since evolved to include Saville Row inspired suiting, diaphanous dresses and separates.

Miriam Cecilia Carlson - Miriam Cecilia (www.miriamcecilia.com)
Miriam Cecilia Carlson entered the world of fashion when she sketched ball gowns for her paper dolls at the age of three. Graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2009 from Dominican University, Miriam didn't take long to enter into the fashion design world after graduation. In addition to becoming a designer in residence with Macy's Chicago Fashion Incubator Program, she also launched her miriam cecilia clothing line. Miriam's line ranges from ready-to-wear cocktail dresses and separates to couture hand-sewn gowns, with the pieces from the collection being able to be mixed and matched.

Concetta Cipriano - Cettina Designs (www.cettinadesigns.com)
Up and coming design talent Concetta Cipriano was born and raised in the city of Chicago. She graduated from Dominican University with a double major in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising. In 2009, she established Cettina Designs, which Concetta describes as "a women's high-fashion contemporary/evening wear clothing line." The name "Cettina" has a great personal significance since this was her childhood nickname. Also, Concetta is currently a designer in residence with Macy's Chicago Fashion Incubator Program.

Sheila Rashid - Sheila Rashid (www.sheilarashid.com)
Born in Chicago and having extensively traveled throughout her childhood, Sheila Rashid found a great interest in fashion and design. The designer of the "classy casual" Sheila Rashid clothing line is known for great attention to details and excellent tailoring skills. Sheila, who has had very little formal training, has created a collection that is edgy and simple, including geometrically inspired dresses. Her "greatest journey now is inspiring others, exercising free will to love and being what she was born to do: design."

Click here to download the fashion show schedule.

Last year's winner: (video link)

Press: (links)

Download application for next year's event.