Friday, September 30
5:00 pm - 11:30 pm

 
5:20-5:45 pm Gruppo Amarcord: Snow White ALL DAY LONG
DJ Madrid (main room)
DJ Raj Mahal (lounge)
Live painting by Chadwick Anderson
5:45-6:15 pm Cooking Show by Luca Corazzina of 312 Chicago
6:30–7:00 pm Cooking Show by Federico Comacchio of Phil Stephani’s 437 Rush
7:00-7:15 pm Exclusive Unveiling of The Lamborghini Aventador with Duo Pianistico Italiano Laura Lanzetti - Antonello Gotta
7:15–8:15 pm Fashion shows by Crystal B. Simms, Crystal B. Designs; Britney Petrina Devaris, Britney Devaris; Concetta Cipriano, Cettina; Sheila Rashid, Sheila Rashid,Fashion shows by Alma Wieser, Renovar; Michelle Tan, Michelle Tan; Christina Fan, C/Fan; Miriam Cecilia Carlson, Miriam Cecilia. DJ Madrid and violinist Katarina Visnevska
8:15-8:45 pm Gruppo Amarcord: Italian Gala
8:45–9:15 pm Cooking Show by Chris Macchia of Coco Pazzo
9:15-9:30 pm Duo Pianistico Italiano: Laura Lanzetti - Antonello Gotta
9:30-10:00 pm Cooking Show by Bruno Abate of Tocco
10:00-10:30 pm Gruppo Amarcord: Elixir of Author

 

Saturday, October 1
5:00 pm - 12 midnight

6:00-6:30 pm Duo Pianistico Italiano: Laura Lanzetti - Antonello Gotta ALL DAY LONG
GUN LOVE DJ Madrid
DJ Raj Mahal (Lounge)
Live painting by Chadwick Anderson
6:30–7:00 pm Cooking Show by Tito Conza and Bill Mulchrone of Cavatappi
7:00-7:30 pm Duo Pianistico Italiano: Laura Lanzetti - Antonello Gotta
7:30–8:15 pm ITALIAN FASHION EXCHANGE COMPETITION - Crystal B. Simms, Crystal B. Designs; Britney Petrina Devaris, Britney Devaris; Concetta Cipriano, Cettina; Sheila Rashid, Sheila Rashid
8:30–9:15 pm ITALIAN FASHION EXCHANGE COMPETITION - Alma Wieser, Renovar; Michelle Tan, Michelle Tan; Christina Fan, C/Fan; Miriam Cecilia Carlson, Miriam Cecilia
9:15–9:45 pm Cooking Show by John Coletta of Quartino
9:45-10:00 pm DJ Madrid and violinist Katarina Visnevska
10:00-10:15 pm Awards Ceremony and Party
10:15 pm 'til end GUN LOVE/Blane Fonda

FINAL PARTY at the loading dock

 

Sunday, October 2
12 noon - 6:00 pm

12:00-12:15 pm OPENING, DJ's only ALL DAY LONG
DJ Madrid (main room)
DJ Raj Mahal (lounge)
Live painting by Chadwick Anderson
12:15-12:45 pm Gruppo Amarcord performing: Cinderella
12:45-1:15 pm Lombardy Cooking with Chef Federico Comacchio of 437 Rush and Chef Giancarlo Ferrara of Arcodoro, Lombardy Winner at Italian Expo Houston 2011
1:30-2:00 pm Cooking Show by Chef Cristiano Bassani of BaPi Italian Ristorante
2:00-2:15 pm Duo Pianistico Italiano: Laura Lanzetti - Antonello Gotta
2:15-2:45 pm Gruppo Amarcord performing: Piazza, spaghetti e mandolino
2:45–4:00 pm Fashion shows by Crystal B. Simms, Crystal B. Designs; Britney Petrina Devaris, Britney Devaris; Concetta Cipriano, Cettina; Sheila Rashid, Sheila Rashid and DJ. Madrid and violinist Katarina Visnevska
4:00-4:15 pm Duo Pianistico Italiano: Laura Lanzetti - Antonello Gotta
4:15-4:45 pm Cooking Show by Carmelo Mauro, Houston's Master of the Kitchen 2011
5:00-5:30 pm Cooking Show by Massimo Campagnini of Volare feat. Johnatan Lane of Benny's Chop House
5:30-6:00 pm Finale Show by Gruppo Amarcord performing: Opera



The Italian Fashion Exchange Competition
Indulge your passion for fashion at the Italian Fashion Exchange Competition!

FIRST PLACE PRIZE TO MILAN FOR FASHION WEEK!

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.