Meet the founders of the Artisan Luxury Giveaway
Chikahisa Studio
Founder & Designer: Ann Chikahisa
I have always made things THAT I LOVE for the people I love. Finding, crafting, weaving, working, forging, unforging, creating. Like breathing, like blinking, I have been watching my art out of the corner of my eye for a long time. First in flowers, then in yarn and fabric; in two dimensions, and in three; for my children, for my friends; with media enduring and others fleeting; in ways that were at once satisfying and incomplete.
Until, one day, my daughter asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. She listened, expectantly and with limited patience for an answer she believed should not be that hard to give. Like your favorite ice cream flavor? Or what super power you would have if you could pick only one? Knowing what you want to be should lie at the tip of our thoughts. Ready for a bit of luck, a hint of opportunity, a wish.
And in that moment, I knew. Mint chip, when the mint is green and the chips are dark chocolate. Flying, of course. And, an artist. Full time, all the time, my whole soul.
I am self-taught, but I am far from alone. I learned from my mother. Who learned from her’s. To find beauty. To cherish it. To allow it space and time. I learn from other artists about craft, and patience, and effort, and imperfection, and community. And I learn from my children.
I can answer that question now. Any time. Any where.
Chikahisa Studio became official in 2010.
Modern. Sophisticated. Extraordinary.
The Checkroom
Founder & Designer Elisabeth Williams
I started this business in 2014 after becoming frustrated by the lack of quality garments available on the market.
As a graduate of Parson's School of Design I've always been interested in clothing as a form of expression.
However, my skills as a pattern maker and seamstress were forged while creating costumes some of Chicago's most iconic theatres.
It was during my years as a seamstress that I learned, among other things...
Some of the most beautiful and well-made clothes were constructed decades ago when quality was valued.
Modern garment workers are being extremely undervalued and under-paid.
As a result of a broken fashion system, modern customers were ultimately losing out by having to continually purchase poorly made goods season after season.
With all this in mind I set out to create something better...modern women's outerwear that could be cherished for years to come, not only because of its timeless style but also because of its quality craftsmanship. Since day one, I've pledged to have my pieces ethically-made right here in the City of Chicago.
My coats and jackets have been tried and tested in a city known for its bad weather. Their functionality is just as important to me as their looks.
It's no accident that I am drawn to outerwear as a means of expressing my values. My only hope is that others may take notice and share in them too.
Malaika New York
A graduate of the prestigious Parsons School of Design, Danish-born Malaika Boysen Haaning uses architectural influences in her futuristic designs. Her eponymous label reinvents wardrobe staples by giving them a Scandinavian twist, all in an ethically-made zero waste package.
Malaika’s innovative use of rectangular patterns drastically minimizes textile waste while producing striking designs. The brand’s signature two-fold purpose was developed with the wearer and the environment in mind. The designer and founder strives to dispel the myth that sustainable fashion is bland with her
flattering yet comfortable silhouettes. Each piece gently hugs the body in all the right places. Malaika New York garments are truly one of a kind pieces that cannot be found elsewhere. By using rectangular patterns and specialized sewing techniques, the label significantly reduces its amount of textile waste. Malaika New York has a mere 3% waste rate compared to the industry standard of 30%.
flattering yet comfortable silhouettes. Each piece gently hugs the body in all the right places. Malaika New York garments are truly one of a kind pieces that cannot be found elsewhere. By using rectangular patterns and specialized sewing techniques, the label significantly reduces its amount of textile waste. Malaika New York has a mere 3% waste rate compared to the industry standard of 30%.
Malaika New York uses up-cycled fabrics including bike tubes, regenerated fabrics, and textile offcuts. Locally handcrafting their garments in New York reduces their C02 emissions while ensuring exceptional quality and fair labor practices.
Sustainability and ethics are at the forefront of everything that Malaika does.
Malaika New York continually breaks the mold for zero waste fashion with cutting-edge design techniques. The fashion label encourages a sustainable lifestyle and promotes a sense of community within the industry. The use of expert craftsmanship and high quality fabrics guarantees the extended longevity of
each garment. Wearers will treasure their Malaika New York pieces for years to come. The label adheres to a season-less policy, promoting timeless pieces that will never go out of fashion.
Malaika New York continually breaks the mold for zero waste fashion with cutting-edge design techniques. The fashion label encourages a sustainable lifestyle and promotes a sense of community within the industry. The use of expert craftsmanship and high quality fabrics guarantees the extended longevity of
each garment. Wearers will treasure their Malaika New York pieces for years to come. The label adheres to a season-less policy, promoting timeless pieces that will never go out of fashion.
Featuring unique design features such as reversibility, Malaika New York garments are designed with versatility in mind. Wearers are encouraged to explore their creative side while wearing Malaika New York.
Based in New York, the brand is currently experiencing an exciting level of growth. Malaika New York now has locations on the east and west coasts of the USA, and beyond. With features in some of the industry’s most iconic publications, such as Harper’s Bazaar and Elle, Malaika New York is quickly becoming one of the sustainable fashion world’s most impressive names.
