Chicago’s fashion-conscious residents love to dress in style, often opting for branded apparel. The city boasts a plethora of labels that produce affordable and eco-friendly everyday wear. Let’s dive deeper into some of them on chicagoka.com.
Monica & Andy
Monica & Andy is a Chicago-based clothing brand specializing in soft, comfortable dresses, tops, leggings, shorts, jackets, swimwear, and pajamas for women and children. The label also offers organic essentials, trusted by over 150,000 babies.
Founded in 2013 by Monica Royer and Brian Bloom, Monica & Andy quickly gained popularity in Chicago thanks to its commitment to quality. That dedication hasn’t wavered over the years; Monica & Andy continues to focus on creating high-quality children’s and women’s clothing. Designers use certified organic cotton and fabrics that won’t shrink or fade after washing.
The brand aims to empower women and expectant mothers to discover their personal style and choose the best clothing that makes them look and feel amazing.
Mohop
Mohop is an ethical footwear brand from Rockford, just outside Chicago. They design and craft shoes, sandals, bags, and even pet accessories using vegan and eco-friendly materials.
The brand’s story began in 2005 when designer Annie Mohaupt turned her dream into reality, combining her passion with sustainable development and a desire for comfortable footwear.
Mohop artisans avoid artificial leather with plastic coatings like vinyl, PVC, and others. Instead, they create comfortable, beautiful, and durable products from nylon. This ensures their shoes, boots, and sandals not only complete an outfit but are also safe for the environment and animals.
LaBante
LaBante is a renowned brand known for its vegan leather bags and wallets. Originally founded in London, it soon relocated to Chicago. LaBante offers style-conscious individuals a wide range of backpacks, handbags, slings, clutches, wallets, and more.
What sets this brand apart is its commitment to creating sustainable, ethical collections from vegan leather, entirely free of glues or dyes. In fact, all products are made from recycled materials and contain absolutely no animal-derived ingredients.
The brand’s philosophy is that animals should not suffer for the creation of clothing and accessories. They also take responsibility for reducing global waste for future generations. Customers rave about the excellent quality of their products, noting how easily they can create or complement any look. Every woman can find something unique and original within the brand’s collections.
Mod + Ethico
Mod + Ethico is a popular Chicago marketplace that sells beautiful, ethically made designer clothing for women and children. They offer their customers unique eco-chic collections.
Mod + Ethico champions high-tech fashion, sophistication, luxury, and classic styles. They are passionate about socially responsible and environmentally sustainable clothing for modern women.
Their selection includes stunning apparel from emerging designers who use high-quality, eco-friendly materials. Thus, Mod + Ethico not only allows women to dress in the latest fashion but also connects designers and entrepreneurs.
Luxury Garage Sale
Luxury Garage Sale is a high-end consignment brand specializing in pre-owned designer clothing, shoes, and accessories. Founded in Chicago in 2011, it has both an online presence and physical stores. They offer daily updated collections of pre-owned items from the world’s most famous luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and more.
Chicagoans praise Luxury Garage Sale for its excellent service, with stylists providing free style recommendations to clients.
Elda De La Rosa
Elda De La Rosa is one of Chicago’s most celebrated haute couture designers. Her eponymous brand, Elda De La Rosa, offers elegant, custom-made ensembles perfect for women who want to stand out from the crowd.
The brand’s style is refined, classic, and chic. Her collections feature stunning cocktail dresses and animal print shawls. Each piece in her prêt-à-porter collection has a vintage feel but with a modern cut and dazzling embellishments. The designer works personally with clients throughout the entire process to create the perfect evening look.
BellaNiecele
The BellaNiecele brand belongs to designer Niecele Nicholas, who creates clothing for progressive women. The brand reduces waste and supports a sustainable business model by crafting each outfit to order and offering clients a huge selection of styles. Their range includes everything from wedding attire to everyday wear. Furthermore, Niecele Nicholas’s designs incorporate unique elements, transforming classic garments into works of art that any fashionista would be proud to add to her wardrobe.
For example, the designer’s wedding collections showcase classic drapes and satin alongside innovative silhouettes like side-slit pants and cropped tops. Customers rave about how easy it is to find a style for any body type within the brand’s assortment.
Wulfka
The clothing brand Wulfka is owned by designer Kate Asten, who creates ideal pieces for an elegant everyday wardrobe. Wulfka’s collections feature items in gray and black tones, such as sweaters, high-collar t-shirts, and many others. A special focus is placed on vibrant outfits with bold patterns and feminine embellishments. Citrus-themed sets are perfect for creative professionals, while short ruffled tops are for those who want to stand out. All the brand’s items are available in a wide range of sizes, from XS to 4XL.
Sophia Reyes
Designer Sophia Reyes launched this brand in 2008, and since then, it has consistently generated buzz on the local fashion scene. The independent label produces small batches of clothing inspired by Sophia’s love for modern art and minimalist design.
Sophia Reyes’s style is classic, minimalist, and feminine. The clothing created by the brand is absolutely perfect for modern women who value practicality, comfort, and versatility while still wanting to stay on-trend. The collections feature chic basics like blouses, dresses, scarves, and cardigans with unique patterns.
Loop Wear
Loop Wear is a brand offering Chicagoans streetwear that makes the city famous. It aims to celebrate all of Chicago’s neighborhoods, especially the areas along the iconic L line. Loop Wear’s designs feature colorful lines reminiscent of train line maps and skylines. Additionally, their T-shirts, hoodies, and joggers boast vibrant LOOP logos that look playful yet understated.
Ricorso
Founded in 2010, this brand is known for reinterpreting wardrobe classics, transforming them into fresh must-haves. Some of Chicago’s top creative minds in the fashion industry lead this label. Ricorso brings vintage styles back into fashion, transforming them into modern, beautiful, minimalist pieces. Full skirts, bow blouses, and ’60s sheath dresses find new life through contemporary fabrics, chic cuts, and gorgeous colors.
As you can see, Chicago offers a multitude of brands that allow women to remain stylish and unique.