Designers from New York and Los Angeles traditionally have had the greatest success in the U.S. fashion industry. But, as WGN's Allison Payne reports, Chicago-based designers have now won the prestigious AOL Latino Fashionista award, two years in a row.
As 27 year old Horacio Nieto fits his designs on models he says, "We're gonna do that one!"
This young designer is finding success in the highly competitive fashion industry, one dress at a time.
A tribal inspired satin and chiffon mini-dress beat other top competitors, and he created it in just four hours.
"As a designer it gives you a lot of credit for winning a competition that was a national competition as well as the winnings that come with it."
Horacio says he knew as a kid that he wanted to be a designer. He made his first dresses for his mom with strong touches of their Mexican heritage.
"In my culture, women wear things that most women wouldn't wear as in color, silhouettes, backless dresses, things I don't really agree with. It's just things that push the envelope."
Macy's Chicago Fashion Program Director Andrea Schwarts says his dynamic designs caught the eye of Macy's buyers in Chicago.
"Horacio came to us our buyers took a look at his collection, loved it, found certain pieces of the collection that we thought our customers would really enjoy and they do."
For a young upstart like Horacio, having his designs sold at a national department store is a major achievement. Schwartz says it's a very big deal!
"It's the second largest retailer in the world. And to have it at a flagship store such as Macy's on State street. All of those things are really great because Horacio is hanging next to some of the most well known national designers and international designers."
Horacio also has a men's line he calls Arlo, a Spanish name ending in "o" just like his own.
"I just try to add something different. something you can still wear but obviously there's that little fashion forwardness to it."
He tries on an outer coat as he describes the details. "We just gave it an exaggerated collar a double ended zipper and just played along with the same gro grain ribbon effect."
As he traces out a pattern for one of his next pieces, Horacio is always thinking of the future when he can showcase his work out of his own boutique. What makes his work stand out?
"I think dresses that appeal to women. The silhouettes, the colors, the fabrics, the price points. I'm not charging a huge amount of money for what it is but it is a dress with a design. It is a dress with feminiiity, fluidity, sex appeal."
And despite his talent and growing celebrity, when his niece calls, he drops everything to make her the perfect prom dress.
"This is a Cynthia gown this is the one from the fall collection..."
Young, fabulous and for now, one-of-a-kind. Uncle Horacio... take a bow. Allison Payne, WGN News.
Horacio's designs run several *hundred dollars versus several thousand dollars for many designers. And his clothes are not mass produced, all are made right here in Chicago.
http://www.horacionieto.com/default4.asp http://www.arlomenswear.com/default4.asp http://tuvida.aol.com/moda-y-belleza/fashionista/english/
As 27 year old Horacio Nieto fits his designs on models he says, "We're gonna do that one!"
This young designer is finding success in the highly competitive fashion industry, one dress at a time.
A tribal inspired satin and chiffon mini-dress beat other top competitors, and he created it in just four hours.
"As a designer it gives you a lot of credit for winning a competition that was a national competition as well as the winnings that come with it."
Horacio says he knew as a kid that he wanted to be a designer. He made his first dresses for his mom with strong touches of their Mexican heritage.
"In my culture, women wear things that most women wouldn't wear as in color, silhouettes, backless dresses, things I don't really agree with. It's just things that push the envelope."
Macy's Chicago Fashion Program Director Andrea Schwarts says his dynamic designs caught the eye of Macy's buyers in Chicago.
"Horacio came to us our buyers took a look at his collection, loved it, found certain pieces of the collection that we thought our customers would really enjoy and they do."
For a young upstart like Horacio, having his designs sold at a national department store is a major achievement. Schwartz says it's a very big deal!
"It's the second largest retailer in the world. And to have it at a flagship store such as Macy's on State street. All of those things are really great because Horacio is hanging next to some of the most well known national designers and international designers."
Horacio also has a men's line he calls Arlo, a Spanish name ending in "o" just like his own.
"I just try to add something different. something you can still wear but obviously there's that little fashion forwardness to it."
He tries on an outer coat as he describes the details. "We just gave it an exaggerated collar a double ended zipper and just played along with the same gro grain ribbon effect."
As he traces out a pattern for one of his next pieces, Horacio is always thinking of the future when he can showcase his work out of his own boutique. What makes his work stand out?
"I think dresses that appeal to women. The silhouettes, the colors, the fabrics, the price points. I'm not charging a huge amount of money for what it is but it is a dress with a design. It is a dress with feminiiity, fluidity, sex appeal."
And despite his talent and growing celebrity, when his niece calls, he drops everything to make her the perfect prom dress.
"This is a Cynthia gown this is the one from the fall collection..."
Young, fabulous and for now, one-of-a-kind. Uncle Horacio... take a bow. Allison Payne, WGN News.
Horacio's designs run several *hundred dollars versus several thousand dollars for many designers. And his clothes are not mass produced, all are made right here in Chicago.
http://www.horacionieto.com/default4.asp http://www.arlomenswear.com/default4.asp http://tuvida.aol.com/moda-y-belleza/fashionista/english/
