Runway to Showroom® Symposium
2019

Driehaus Design Initiative hosted Runway to Showroom®: Driehaus Business of Fashion Symposium on May 16, 2019. Participating designers of The 18th Annual Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence were invited to attend the symposium and luncheon at the Chicago History Museum. Featured speakers highlighted topics to provide the designers with essential tips to elevate their brand and launch and sustain a successful career. The program included: 

  • DESIGNER RESOURCES: WHAT COMES NEXT
    Rakan Shams Aldeen, Designer & Founder, RAKAN
  • FASHION HISTORY FOR THE FUTURE: CONNECTING DESIGNERS WITH HISTORIC RESOURCES AND COLLECTIONS
    Jessica Pushor, Costume Collection Manager, Chicago History Museum
  • BUSINESS BASICS: GETTING STARTED
    Kenya Merritt, Chief Business Officer, City of Chicago Small Business Center
  • SLOW FASHION & ETHICAL MANUFACTURING
    Jamie Hayes, Owner/Designer, Production Mode

The speakers also participated in Q&A discussions with students; students received beneficial insight and tailored, personal advice.

Driehaus Design Initiative would like to thank the industry experts who participated as speakers in the symposium.

We would also like to thank the Chicago History Museum for providing a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum’s costume collection with Costume Collection Manager, Jessica Pushor and a curated guided tour of the Silver Screen to Mainstream exhibition with Costume Curator, Virginia Heaven.