Everything we know about the first-ever Chicago Fashion Week happening this fall

Fall in Chicago is about to get even more interesting: Officials have announced the launch of the very first Chicago Fashion Week, set to run for 12 days starting October 9 through October 20.

“The events will shine a spotlight on Chicago as the incubator of of groundbreaking, critically acclaimed designers, home to fashion schools that attract global talent and a hub for world-class shopping,” reads an official press release. 

Earlier this week, prominent figures belonging to the local fashion industry attended an event at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago to celebrate the announcement.

During the program, folks were treated to a special runway show highlighting some of the looks that will be on display in the fall by seven local designers: GREYVI, I Am Studios, Koush, Maria Pinto, Production Mode, Sheila Rashid and Sujata Gazder.

Here is everything we already know about the inaugural Chicago Fashion Week:

When is Chicago Fashion Week happening in 2024?

The series of events will kick off on October 9 and run through October 20.

How much will it cost to attend a Chicago Fashion Week event?

According to the official release, nearly 95% of all of the events will be open to the public, “many of them free with advance registration.”

Where is Chicago Fashion Week taking place?

According to officials, there will be 50 events held at different locations all throughout Chicago.

“The Chicago Fashion Week calendar will aggregate a thoughtfully curated selection of shows, presentations, retail events, exhibitions, marketplaces and educational panel discussions,” reads the release. “Existing landmark industry events, including the return of Fashion Group International Chicago’s Rising Star Awards and the Chicago History Museum’s Costume Council 50th Anniversary Gala, will be incorporated into the schedule to emphasize the breadth of offerings within Chicago’s fashion industry, from emerging designs to archived costuming.”

Have any Chicago Fashion Week events been announced yet?

During this week’s program, producers announced the following upcoming happenings:

• An Opening Night Runway Show by The Curio on October 9 featuring local artists from the iconic Maria Pinto to rising streetwear design star Sheila Rashid. 
  
  
• Chicago Fashion Coalition fashion show on October 11 will feature local design talent showcased in non-traditional manner in artistic collaboration with music tied the city’s 40th anniversary of house music.
  
  
• Local business association programming that includes a Fulton Market Outdoor Fashion Show on October 11 hosted by the West Central Association, and Couture for a Cause hosted by the Oak Street District running the duration of Chicago Fashion Week. 
  
  
• Representing the brilliance and creativity of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) designers, Asian Fashion Show Chicago on October 12 will present various collections that embrace AAPI culture showcased on models from the AAPI community.
  
  
• Surround Sound of Fashion on October 12, blending fashion and music experiences that include top national recording acts, will showcase creative talent from the Midwest.
  
  
• A special one-day Vintage Fashion Marketplace (Oct. 13) produced by the team behind the Randolph Street Market.
   
  
• A fashion photography exhibition opening on Oct. 16 and running into the winter at the NoMI Gallery at the Park Hyatt.
   
  
• Minted Media Productions, woman-owned and Latina-Indigenous proud, will present Chicago Fashion Showcase (Oct. 17)a platform for global emerging and leading fashion designers, with a spotlight on BIPOC designers, to showcase their collection on the runway and in a market: chicagofashionshowcase.com.   
  
  
• Runway Latinx (Oct. 19) will feature local Latinx talent, as well as some South American designers: runwaylatinx.com.