Apparel Industry Board Press Kit

Jacqueline Thornton MM 321 Press Kit

Apparel Industry

Board Incorporated

Apparel Industry Board, INC - [email protected]

44 West Grand Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60654 T: 312.836.1041 F: 312.923.9076 E. [email protected] www.aibi.com

THE BOARD Dorothy Fuller – President

Emeritus Rose Becker – President Susan McCullough – Vice

President Susan Glick – Fashion

Director Karen Janko – Secretary Erica Strama – Treasure Jacqueline Thornton – Public

Relations Director


The Apparel Board Industry Incorporated is the only official organization in Illinois committed solely to

the needs of the sewn industry.

The AIBI consists of Chicago’s crème de la crème with careers in fashion and business as it relates to fashion including – design, retail marketing, merchandising, manufacturing,

finance and sales.

The Apparel Industry Board was founded in 1987 and its mission is to promote the apparel and sewn garments industry

in Chicago while assisting members of the AIBI with developing professional skills, gathering new business and

locating further opportunities for business. The AIBI sponsors programs that bring the Chicago fashion industry into the

public eye.

The AIBI branched to create the Apparel Industry Foundation, Incorporated (AIFI) as the philanthropic part of AIBI and it focuses on Chicago apparel and fashion through a mentoring program and it awards scholarships to fashion

design students annually. Apparel Industry Board, INC - [email protected]

Gregg Andrews Scott Carlson Stephanie D’Ambrosio Elda De La Rosa Gregg Fishman Andrew Gloyeske Mira Horoszowski Sarah Kuenyefu-Searcy Linda LaSala Whitnet Lasky Laura Lein Kathryn McKechnie Dennis Minkel Dianna Muzzy

Susana Negovan Stanley Paul Jenny Pfanenstiel Anthony Rossi David Rubin Richard Schneider Laruen Smith Daryl Sneed Dori Wilson Marla Zegart

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Susan McCullough, Domestically produced apparel and accessories are gaining momentum with consumers. I think it would be great for AIBI and MADE IN CHICAGO to bring attention to more Chicago designers with a fashion design competition featuring junior and senior level design students. The competition would entail the students completing a ready to wear collection to be shown during Chicago Fashion Week. The winner of the competition will win a chance to have their collection sold in our MADE IN CHICAGO boutique during one season and a scholarship to cover their last year of undergrad. The runners up will also receive scholarships toward their education. Let me know if you want me to reach out to any design professors to see if they have students that are up to the challenge. This would be a great opportunity to gain some press for AIBI and MADE IN CHICAGO while bring attention to the design students of Chicago. Thanks, Jacqueline Thornton

Founded in 1987 by late Mayor Harold Washington as a delegate of the City of Chicago, Department of Community Development

Former Mayor, Richard M. Daley continued to support and promote AIBI – he wanted to ensure that Chicago remained prominent in the competitive fashion industry

26 years since coming to be, the AIBI continues to nurture and grow the fashion and apparel industry in the Chicago land area

AIBI has helped to grow the careers of thousands of younger designers and mastered the art of creating a successful business


AIBI MEMBERSHIP Directory of the Illinois Apparel and Sewn Products Industry

Line critiques – complimentary to members of the industry

Credit check assistance and collection referral services through AIBI

High visibility events promoting Chicago’s apparel and sewn products designers

and manufacturers

Top listing in all the AIBI Directory of the IASPI

Designer and manufacturer feature – AIBI website spotlight on member companies

E-News – informative monthly online newsletter that covers the happenings in

Chicago’s apparel and sewn products industry

A hotline for industry problems and questions

Creative Counseling

Student membership options

Sourcing Apparel Industry Board, INC - [email protected]

MADE IN CHICAGO presented by AIBI –Retail store featuring a rotating

list of Chicago designers

AIBI/Richard Driehaus – Purchase Order Loan Program

Business Counseling – Creative Counseling Program

Chicago Fabric & Trim Show – Spring and Fall

“ Ca$h & Carry” Fabric and Trim Sale

Quarterly Newsletter

Trade Show 101

“The Business of Fashion” – A comprehensive educational seminar series

lead by top industry professional

Industry Networking Events – Speed Networking to make great new

connections Apparel Industry Board, INC - [email protected]

Creative Counseling Program

A one – on – one mentoring opportunity for entrepreneurs in the

industry to improve their bottom lines while gaining knowledge in

the apparel business

Each hour long session is $150 (members pay $100)

Follow up sessions range in price from $50 - $100.

Counseling sessions have been used to educate people on each facet

of business operations: business plans, contractors and

patternmakers, manufacturers and sample makers, public relations,

trade shows, sourcing materials, design concepts costing for

probability

Each participant will receive access to the 2010 directory of the

Illinois Apparel and Sewn Products Industry


LIFESTYLES

Public Relations Director

Write operative press releases and prepare

media kits

Maintain the company’s corporate and image,

Manage communications budget

Pet Lover with 2 cats, 1 rabbit and one dog

Graduated in 2013 from International Academy of

Design and Technology with a Bachelor’s of Fine

Arts in Fashion Merchandising and Management

Created “Rescue Rangers” pet fostering and

rehoming business

Long-standing lover of fast fashion, worked with

H&M’s menswear during undergrad

President’s List & Dean’s List

Recipient of Spring 2013 CESF Scholarship

Jacqueline Thornton



AIBI IN PRINT

CHICAGO SUN TIMES - Laura Lein on how supporting local designers can save lives around the world

Merchandise Mart Conference Center 350 N. Orleans • Only show of its kind in the

Midwest • Attracts 500+ buyer nationwide • Features over 100 fabric and trim

resources

MADE IN CHICAGO Presented by AIBI designer Forme Millinery’s Magazine Cover

AIBI’s annual “Business of Fashion” seminar led by top industry professionals

Local art and design students came together to create a MADE IN CHICAGO logo for the grand opening of the boutique in its new Northbridge Mall location


AIBI PRESENTS MADE IN CHICAGO

Documents

Apparel Industry Board Press Kit