Event Guide
Chicago Fashion Week: Find Your Way In, October 12 to 18
Runways, independent shopping, hands-on making and industry conversations, selected by what you want from Chicago Fashion Week.
A runway, a buyer appointment and a sewing workshop ask different things of your afternoon. For October 12 to 18, start with what you want to see or do: watch clothes move, meet the people making them, buy something you can wear, or understand how fashion reaches a customer.
Our route through Chicago Fashion Week follows those decisions. It brings footwork, independent production, resale, fashion education and neighborhood venues into the same conversation without treating every event as the same kind of show. These are advance selections based on announced programs, not reviews of performances we have already attended.
Movement and spectacle: Footwork, Stories and Freakcitycore offer three different relationships between clothes, bodies and music.
Shopping: Production Mode, Vintage on the Avenue and Streetwear Expo let you compare actual objects. The Showroom is oriented toward buyers and orders. Designer trunk shows require a separate appointment plan.
Making: repair, quilting, dyeing and embroidery workshops offer distinct skills rather than one generic sustainability experience.
Business and images: the AIBI Summit, Beauty Standards and the Marco Sqrd panel address different parts of fashion work.
Place: Union Station and World Fashion Festival at Navy Pier supply landmark settings; DuSable, Silverroom and South Shore connect the week to other parts of the city.
Choose the movement you want to watch. Footwork asks what a garment does at the speed of a dancer's feet. Stories brings contemporary movement and live violin into the presentation. Freakcitycore shifts the encounter toward a club and a human gallery. Their differences matter more than a shared runway label.
Footwork At Fashion Week: Lines In Motion
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12
TIME : Doors 6 p.m. : Show 7 p.m.
WHERE : MKRS LAB at ADA S. McKinley
6033 S. Wentworth Ave.
ENTRY : Listed tickets $20 to $50
Stitched By Steelo links its cut-and-sew debut to CTA imagery and footwork choreography. Watch how the clothes respond to direction changes, not only how a look holds for a photograph. This is a particularly useful starting point if Chicago dance and music are your way into fashion.
The Journey
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
TIME : Building doors 5 p.m. : Catacombs doors 6:30 p.m. : Show 7:30 p.m.
WHERE : Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S. Ashland Ave.
ENTRY : Advance standing $25 plus fees : Ages 21+
Seated and VIP tiers cost more.
Emergent Fashion Society uses The Wiz as a starting point for a show about becoming and creative possibility. The announced designers include House of M Bissine, Heavens Child, Noteworthy, Kreativeli, Livi Lane and Gaea Mae. Treat the theatrical premise as something to watch unfold rather than a claim about what every collection means.
Stories, a Fashion-in-Motion Event
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
TIME : Doors 6 p.m. : Runway 7 p.m.
WHERE : Fishman's Fabrics
1101 S. Desplaines St.
ENTRY : $25
Shopping 8 to 10 p.m.
indyvin presents repurposed and deadstock garments with movement by Stephanie Nugent and music by violinist and composer Robin Cox. Shopping follows the runway, so you can connect a moving silhouette to an object you might actually wear. The announced sequence makes this a useful bridge between performance and purchasing.
Freakcitycore Runway III: Human Gallery
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
TIME : Doors 8 p.m. : Runway 8:30 to 9 p.m.
WHERE : Pach21, second floor
2141 W. 21st St.
ENTRY : $25 : Ages 18+
Human Gallery 9 to 10 p.m.
Insidious Studios pairs a runway with electronic music and a later Human Gallery. The change in format is the reason to choose it: after a timed presentation, the evening offers a different way to encounter the looks. DFEMT is named in the program. This is an 18-and-over evening, not a conventional all-ages fashion exhibition.
A market is often the more useful choice if your goal is to take something home. Ask about fit, materials, repairs and delivery dates. A free entrance does not make the merchandise free, and a runway appearance does not necessarily mean a piece is available for immediate purchase.
the Showroom
MONDAY & TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 & 13
TIME : Noon to 6 p.m.
WHERE : Fourtune House Art Center
4410 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
ENTRY : Free viewing hours
The linked opening reception is a different date.
Fourtune House's market is framed around designers presenting collections to buyers, stylists, press and shop owners. It is the clearest stop here for thinking about how a collection finds distribution. Arrive with questions about orders, production and delivery rather than expecting a seated runway.
Vintage on the Avenue
FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 TO 18
TIME : Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. : Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE : The Shops at North Bridge
520 N. Michigan Ave.
ENTRY : Free entry : Purchases separate
North Bridge gathers multiple vintage sellers, including Wini & I, Hello Good Buys, Shytowngirl Vintage, Schlesak Vintage, Suzanne Garner Vintage, LULU Chicago and JCR Luxury. Compare condition and construction as well as the label. Ask individual vendors about returns and authentication rather than assuming one policy covers the entire market.
"MID-WEST"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
TIME : Doors 10:45 a.m. : Show 11:11 a.m.
WHERE : Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club
1750 N. Milwaukee Ave.
ENTRY : Free admission
After-party follows; after-party is 21+.
Kone Ranger's fifth live show puts upcycled, embroidered and cut-and-sew garments on 15 models, with shopping afterward. Its unusually precise morning showtime gives the day a different rhythm from the week's evening events. The brand states that Royal Palms becomes 21+ when the after-party begins; do not apply that condition automatically to the runway.
Production Mode Trunk Show
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17 & 18
TIME : Noon to 6 p.m.
WHERE : Production Mode
3860 N. Lincoln Ave.
ENTRY : Free entry : Purchases separate
Production Mode brings Jamie Hayes together with AMR by Alicia Riguzzi and jewelry from Maancy. This is a chance to look closely at small-scale clothing and accessories and ask who makes them. Hayes describes a background in labor organizing and fair-trade work; use that as the beginning of a conversation about production rather than an independent certification of every item.
The Chicago Streetwear Expo
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
TIME : Noon to 6 p.m.
WHERE : The Expo Warehouse
3600 W. Potomac Ave.
ENTRY : $5 entry : $20 priority entry
Free early-entry RSVP is sold out.
A.M. Kollabz advertises more than 25 Chicago brands alongside other participating labels. The value for a shopper is comparison: different graphics, cuts and prices in one room. Check the admission tier before going. The free RSVP for entry before 2 p.m. is marked sold out, while paid entry options remain listed.
Plan separately: Designer appointments
A trunk show serves someone considering a purchase or fitting differently from a seated runway. These independently listed appointments overlap the week; their dates alone do not establish official Chicago Fashion Week participation. Request an appointment and ask which samples, sizes and designer representatives will actually be present.
OCTOBER 9 TO 18: Estee Couture's 2027 collection at Dimitra's Bridal, 1009 N. Rush St. SALON DETAILS ->
OCTOBER 15 TO 17: Saiid Kobeisy at Ultimate Bride, 106 E. Oak St., second floor. The salon gives this window; the designer lists broader, inconsistent dates, so use a confirmed salon appointment. SALON DETAILS ->
OCTOBER 16 TO 17: Enaura at Bella Bianca, 875 N. Rush St., second floor. The salon's dates are narrower than the brand's listing; confirm directly. SALON DETAILS ->
OCTOBER 16 TO 17: Jade Trau at Gem Home + Jewelry, 115 N. Oak Park Ave., Suite 100, Oak Park. This offers a jewelry-focused visit beyond the apparel runway; ask the shop about event hours and appointment availability. SHOP DETAILS ->
Repair and surface work offer a slower way into fashion week. Choose one technique you actually want to try rather than collecting workshop registrations. Check materials and preparation instructions on the official page before arriving.
Mending with Friends: Repair to Rewear
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
TIME : 5:30 to 8 p.m.
WHERE : Chicago Fair Trade Museum
4704 N. Broadway
ENTRY : Listed nonmember admission $10
Bring something that needs repair. Chicago Fair Trade Museum's beginner-friendly session turns the question of clothing longevity into a practical task. The point is to leave with a skill or a wearable item, not simply a new sustainable purchase.
Couture Quilting: Crafting the Denim Puffer
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
TIME : 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE : Mood Fabrics
109 S. State St.
ENTRY : $25
Melody Willis of Chop YAM uses denim to build a puffer scarf. This is a four-hour making commitment, useful for someone interested in volume and structure rather than a quick look at finished clothes. Confirm what materials the registration includes.
Extreme Embroidery
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
TIME : 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE : Mood Fabrics
109 S. State St.
ENTRY : $45
Nontraditional materials make embroidery a surface experiment rather than only a decorative finish. Choose this if texture is your interest, and confirm any preparation or skill requirements before booking.
Towards: Traces of Becoming Fashion Installation
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
TIME : 2 to 5 p.m.
WHERE : Starling by Duo
3243 W. 16th St.
ENTRY : Free entry
Adilah M, Alexandria Richardson and Xiaoyu Yan present research, sketches and prototypes alongside the work. Looking at what precedes a finished garment can be more revealing than another front-facing runway image. This installation is a useful choice for readers who want to understand design decisions.
Fabric Dyeing Workshop
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
TIME : 3 to 5 p.m.
WHERE : Mood Fabrics
109 S. State St.
ENTRY : $25
This Mood Fabrics workshop uses hibiscus tea to dye muslin. It is an accessible way to observe color meeting fabric. Natural ingredients alone do not establish the environmental impact of a whole production process, so keep the emphasis on the technique being taught.
Brand visibility, image-making and production are related, but they are not interchangeable. Choose the Summit for an industry program, Beauty Standards for a discussion about representation, or Marco Sqrd for the selection and styling of archival clothes.
The Fashion Summit 2026 with Keynote Speaker Elie Tahari
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
TIME : Check-in 7:30 a.m. : Program 9 a.m.
WHERE : mHUB
1623 W. Fulton Market
ENTRY : $225 general admission : $95 students
AIBI's program brings Elie Tahari, Jeffrey Banks and CD Greene into an industry-focused day with sessions on AI, costume preservation and sustainability. Pick the session closest to your own work. A designer, a marketer and someone simply curious about clothes will get different things from the same agenda.
There is a concrete change from last year: the 2025 inaugural Summit took place at L7 Chicago with Azature Pogosian as keynote speaker. This year moves to mHUB with Tahari. That is a change of setting and program, not proof of increased attendance or business results.
Beauty Standards: A Chicago Fashion Week Salon Discussion
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
TIME : Doors 5:30 p.m. : Discussion 6 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE : Murphy Auditorium
50 E. Erie St.
ENTRY : Free with registration
End time follows the museum booking.
Kelly Augustine, Lydia Hudgens and Alexa Rice join a SAIC and Driehaus Museum conversation. For a reader interested in the images fashion produces, this offers a different entry from watching another collection: whose bodies become visible, and how beauty is framed. The participants' announced presence does not tell us what they will agree on.
Archival Fashion with Marco Sqrd and Stylist/Photographer Josh Ray
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
TIME : Doors 6 p.m. : Panel 6:30 p.m.
WHERE : Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
20 E. Chestnut St.
ENTRY : Free : Check registration requirements
Marco Sqrd's Max and Sam speak with SVRN's Josh Ray, moderated by Jeri Zink Denz. Choose this for a conversation about collecting and styling past collections. Denz's experience at Gucci and Louis Vuitton is biographical context, not evidence that those houses are staging shows in Chicago this week.
A venue changes the encounter, but it is not a substitute for looking at the work. Compare a civic landmark, a museum, a neighborhood shop and a venue that brings music into the runway. These are different plans, not interchangeable stops on a downtown walking route.
Chicago Fashion Showcase
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
TIME : 5 to 9 p.m.
WHERE : Union Station
225 S. Canal St.
ENTRY : Listed tickets $125 to $250
Minted Media Productions' fifth showcase brings Lauren Lein, Kim LY, Arthouse Clothing and Dovi Art to Union Station. Choose it if the architectural setting and a larger-ticket fashion night are part of the appeal. Shopping from X Marks the Shop adds another format to the evening.
World Fashion Festival 2026
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 TO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
RUNWAY: October 15 and 16, 7:30 p.m.; booking opens at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bar Sol at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
ENTRY: Listed runway tickets $50 to $100, plus fees. October 17 pop-up listed as free; its location remains to be announced.
For an international designer lineup, this is a substantial addition to the week. Thursday lists Jesica Cardoba, NKF and Jeanette Limas; Friday lists Felix Ramiro, Maia Hamira, Shilmel Zagvar and Jorge Rey. Compare the two lineups before choosing a night rather than treating the festival as one repeat performance.
The organizer separates its runway nights from Saturday's shopping pop-up. A three-day festival listing does not mean three nights of runway, and the Saturday venue should not be assumed to be Bar Sol. Confirm that detail before making a shopping trip.
Afro Fashion Experience
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
TIME : Doors 4 p.m. : Runway 5 to 8 p.m.
WHERE : DuSable Museum
740 E. 56th Pl.
ENTRY : Listed tickets $25 to $170
Shopping until 10 p.m.
Obioma Fashion, Fabric da Vinci and Redeaux appear at DuSable, with shopping after the runway. Compare the designers' own materials and references rather than treating African fashion as one style. This has a longer evening window than a brief runway-only visit.
Flamboyant by Force
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
TIME : 7 to 9 p.m.
WHERE : Silverroom
1506 E. 53rd St.
ENTRY : Free entry
Brian Babylon's BBINDS/BBSPOKE brings his clothing work to Silverroom. The announced materials include leather, wool, denim and cashmere. For a visitor, the useful question is how the broadcaster and comedian's point of view appears in the actual garments, rather than assuming his public persona explains every design.
Surround Sound of Fashion
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
TIME : Doors and receptions 5 p.m. : Show 7 p.m.
WHERE : Zhou B Art Center
1029 W. 35th St.
ENTRY : Listed admission $50 to $100
NGINE Media Group combines collections and live music. The current program names Sharaun B and Calvin Evans as hosts, with designers including Aakofi, Nalon, Fabric Da Vinci and Tedela. Choose it if the music-fashion combination matters to you as much as an individual collection.
Last year's official listing placed the show at Cine City Studios with Sharaun B, Dometi Pongo and Yung Joc. The venue and current lineup differ this year. Historical appearances by J. Cole or Ciara are not 2026 bookings.
The following dates fall outside this guide's core week. Keep them as a separate plan for later in October and early November.
Threads of a Nation: A Celebration of Style & Statesmanship
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22
TIME: 6 to 9 p.m.; VIP begins at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.
ENTRY: General $175 members / $200 nonmembers; VIP $225 / $250.
The Costume Council program with curator Timothy Long approaches presidential clothing as historical evidence. Choose it for the connection between dress, public image and political life. Its museum-benefit pricing and format make it a different commitment from a general-admission runway.
Runway Latinx: Glam Reimagined
PUBLIC PROGRAM: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
WHERE: CineCity Studios, 2429 W. 14th St.
ENTRY: Check the organizer's current ticket and registration options.
Saturday's gala lists doors at 6 p.m. Sunday shifts to a Nena Cavalieri trunk show and a Beauty & Longevity panel. That distinction matters: the gala is the presentation-oriented choice, while Sunday offers a more focused shopping and discussion program.
The event headline spans October 23 to 25, but the detailed public schedule reviewed for this guide names October 24 and 25. We have not treated October 23 as a confirmed public attendance date.
Carmina Bespoke at Horween
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
TIME: By appointment; confirm your slot with Carmina.
WHERE: Horween Leather Company
2015 N. Elston Ave.
ENTRY: Advance fitting appointment; bespoke shoes from $1,750. This is a product price, not admission.
Carmina brings its bespoke fitting program to Horween. Ask about the scanning and fitting process, construction choices and delivery time before booking. This is a visit for prospective shoe clients, not an advertised public tannery tour.
Canons Bespoke Shoe Trunk Show
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
TIME: One-hour private appointments; book a time in advance.
WHERE: The Peninsula Chicago
108 E. Superior St.
ENTRY: Advance appointment required; contact the brand for pricing.
Simon Bolzoni meets prospective clients for bespoke shoe appointments. Choose this format if you want to discuss your own fit and construction preferences in detail. It is a private fitting rather than a drop-in runway or market.
Stitchdown Expo Chicago + Super Trunk
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
TIME: Friday, 2 to 9 p.m.; Saturday general admission, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Earlier Saturday access depends on your pass.
WHERE: Artifact Events
4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.
ENTRY: Ticket required; check current passes and entry times.
The maker, tannery and tailoring program offers a broader comparison of products and processes than a single-brand fitting. Use it to compare footwear and leather work and ask makers about materials and construction.
For readers actively choosing bridalwear, the next dates are Rivini by Rita Vinieris, October 23 and 24, and Galia Lahav, November 6 and 7, both at Bella Bianca; and Lee Petra Grebenau, November 6 to 8, at Dimitra's Bridal. Compare appointment availability, sample sizes and ordering timelines before selecting a collection visit. Collection-year labels such as 2027 describe the garments, not the year of these appointments.
Check live availability before paying or traveling. Queer Couture is listed as full. PHANTASIA has conflicting venue information, so we have kept it out of the confirmed route. Curio's A Celebration of Chicago Style III and its adjoining marketplaces have been postponed to an unannounced 2027 date.
Evanston, River Forest and Lincolnwood events need their own travel plans. Within Chicago, a ticket in Union Station, a show at DuSable and a stop at Silverroom still require time between rooms. Choose fewer encounters you can actually spend time with.
Schedules, fees and entry rules were checked against official listings and responsible booking pages on October 12. Recheck the linked page for current conditions.