Brooke Harland
At last, a one-stop site for Chicago designers…from the Chicago Tribune
by Nina Metz
December 14, 2008 – Chicago Tribune Style Section
…Despite efforts by the city to bolster Chicago’s fashion scene, actually getting your hands on clothing made by a local desgner can be a challenge. The designers are out there -but where?
You can scour boutiques that specialize in emerging designers, such as Habit and p.45 in Wicker Park, or even Macy’s, which carries some, but the selections tend to be mixed in with those designers outside Chicago. If it’s your goal is specifically local, one place to start is Web retailer Studio-808 (studio-808.com).
This site was launched early this year by 28 year old Erin Creaney, who says she wanted to hone in on the talent of the city. She moved to Chicago two years ago and works as a retail expert at a local advertising firm.
“I found myself doing a lot of shopping for friends and family because they wanted to see what was going on here-hey wanted unique, original types of looks from emerging designers,” she said.
Studio-808, which also features jewelry from designers such as Susan Elizabeth and Brooke Harland, aims to satisfy. “Erin has great taste,” says one of the featured clothing designers, Katrin Schnabl, who is also a fashion instructor at the School of the Art Institute. “And she’s giving a platform to design that originates here in Chicago”…
Studio-808, Inc. Launches!
Chicago’s most exciting fashion, jewelry and accessory designers are featured on a newly launched online boutique site, www.studio-808.com. The site showcases Chicago’s vibrant indie fashion scene and its emerging fashion talent, making it a must for style-savvy shoppers. In addition to the retail site, Studio-808.com will host fashion and shopping events around the city. A launch party will be announced soon.
The launch line-up of designers includes:
- Orlando Espinoza
- Melissa Serpico Kamout for SERPICO (recently featured in Lucky magazine)
- Lara Miller
- Erin Gallagher
- Brooke Harland for Earcandy
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Studio-808, Inc. is the brainchild of Erin Creaney, a PR executive with a near-athletic enthusiasm for emerging designers. Finding herself searching the city for great designers with new and different looks, she knew a larger operation was in order. What's more, she felt the world needed to know about the fashion percolating in the Windy City. Thus was born Studio-808.com.
