FGI Newsletter Issue 1/2013

January 10, 2013

Fashion Group International ®of Chicago, Inc. Newsletter  September 2012 - January 2013 by Lisa Ackerman

Greetings FGI Chicago Members & Friends: 2012 was an exciting year for Fashion Group Int'l, Chicago.  In addition to our increased commitment to Business Programming we hosted the 8th Rising Star Awards.  Susan Glick and Stephanie D'Ambrosio, the Event Chairs really out did themselves!  The talent in all categories made it very, very difficult for our Member Voters.  Make sure you check out event Photos , Video and Chicago Magazine's coverage of this Event on our website!  Among our new initiatives for 2013, we have appointed a Community Liaison, Kathleen Haines-Finley.  If you do not know Kathleen, please read the article on her below.  Our goal is to more effectively connect our Members with those in the Community for the benefit of all. As we welcome a New Year our Board of Directors has already been planning a stellar line-up of Events.  But, we want to hear from you what content you are looking for...so look for an online survey coming to you very soon.   Please check out our Website, Blog & Facebook Page regularly.  New content is added daily. Looking forward to seeing everyone next Wednesday at our first event of the year which is dedicated to getting to know our newest members. All the best, Lisa Ackerman Regional Director *Link to full Newsletter here.

FGI Chicago, Community Liaison

by: Lisa Ackerman

Kathleen A. Haines-Finley

Kathleen Haines-Finley



Kathleen Haines-Finley has been a member of the Fashion Group International, Chicago Community for many years serving on the Board of Directors and as Membership Chair.  Additionally, Kathleen is the Co-Chair for FGI, Chicago Career Day 2013 scheduled for 11/11/13.

It is my great pleasure to now introduce Kathleen as the FGI, Chicago “Community Liaison”.  In this role, Kathleen will work closely with Industry Leaders, Academic and Government organizations to most effectively coordinate our Volunteer, Mentoring and Internship efforts. 

For over 20 years, Kathleen has gracefully intertwined Education, Fashion Design, Retail, and Beauty Consulting giving her a broad and deep prospective on these related industries.  She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology in 1991.  Finally, she is currently the Cle de Peau Manager at Neiman Marcus.

To say she is the perfect "Ambassador for FGI, Chicago" is an under-statement.  She is the embodiment of that title! 

Please contact Kathleen for more information on our Volunteer, Internship and/or Mentorship opportunities. 

khainesfinley@iadtchicago.com

Tonya Gross Millinery is Zappos.com Emerging Designers 2013. www.kickstarter.com help needed.

4 January, 2013 

Chicago, IL.   

Edited by Lisa Ackerman

'Chicago's Own' chosen 

Zappos.com Emerging Designer but needs

help to produce the collection.

Tonya Gross of Tonya Gross Millinery has been selected by Zappos.com for its 2013 Emerging Designer Program. In March of 2013, the Tonya Gross Millinery CAPSule Collection for the Zappos.com will be prominently featured and sold by Zappos.com through an online boutique, and through social media and marketing campaigns.  The CAPSule Collection will be produced exclusively in Chicago and will include ready to wear hats for men and women, with couture bridal and special event headwear for Easter and the Kentucky Derby.  

Regina Taylor, Chicago Magazine’s 2012 Chicagoan of the Year,

in Tonya Gross Millinery

Tonya Gross has launched a Kickstarter project to raise funds to produce the hat collection for Zappos.com.  The funds raised from the Kickstarter project will purchase the millinery materials, packaging, and the local talent needed to finish a collection for high volume retailer Zappos.com: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1949121820/tonya-gross-millinery-hat-collection-for-zapposcom  The Kickstarter project ends on January 11, 2013.
 

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Tonya Gross says, “I am thrilled for the opportunity to partner with such a prominent online retailer like Zappos.com, and so honored by this distinction.  As a fledgling designer, it is the “big break” for which I have worked so hard for many years.  The opportunity to present my line of handmade hats to such an esteemed buying team, and for my product to be seen by millions of Zappos.com’ customers, is a boon for my hat business and welcomed attention for the US hat industry.   This is a unique venture in that I will produce handmade hats for a large volume online retailer that are locally manufactured, and will employ a talented pool of resources drawn from the Chicago fashion industry; I am really proud of this.”

Tonya Gross Millinery is an award-winning bespoke and couture milliner based in Chicago, IL.  After a decade in the Chicago hedge fund industry, Tonya Gross launched her hat business in 2007, producing seasonal couture collections for the Kentucky Derby, special event and bridal, and ready to wear hats for men and women.  Tonya Gross Millinery was most recently featured on Bravotv’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey and ‘Crowns’ at the Goodman Theatre Chicago, and in collections for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week for Pamella Roland and Plutocracy.  

Link to my Kickstarter project ends 11 January 2013:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1949121820/tonya-gross-millinery-hat-collection-for-zapposcom

 

Websites referenced:

http://tonyagrossmillinery.com

http://zappos.com

http://www.zappos.com/emerging-designer

http://kickstarter.com

http://www.pamellaroland.com/

http://beplutocracy.com/