From the Chicago premiere of The United States of Elie Tahari to conversations on artificial intelligence, sustainability, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship, the Summit connected fashion’s legacy with the ideas shaping its future.
CHICAGO, October 13, 2026 — Fashion’s future is not built by technology alone. It is shaped by the entrepreneurs who take risks, the designers who create lasting identities, the innovators challenging traditional business models and the relationships that bring them together.
That spirit was at the center of the Chicago Fashion Summit 2026, held at mHUB during Chicago Fashion Week.
Organized by the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI) under the theme Threading the Future: Fashion, Tech & Transformation, the Summit gathered designers, entrepreneurs, technology leaders, educators and industry professionals for a day of conversations about fashion’s evolution.
Fashinnovation joined the Summit as a strategic communications partner, supporting the visibility and industry connections surrounding the event, including helping bring legendary fashion designer Elie Tahari into the program.
With a global community connecting fashion, technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship, Fashinnovation’s involvement reflected a shared mission: bringing the right people into conversations that move the industry forward.
Elie Tahari: A Legacy Beyond the Runway
One of the Summit’s most anticipated moments was the Chicago premiere of The United States of Elie Tahari, the documentary directed and produced by David Serero that explores the life and extraordinary entrepreneurial journey of one of American fashion’s most influential designers.
Tahari’s story is about much more than clothing.
From his early years as an immigrant to establishing a globally recognized fashion brand, his journey embodies resilience, creativity, ambition and the determination required to build a lasting business.
His contributions to American fashion, including his role in co-founding Theory, have helped shape the contemporary ready-to-wear landscape.
Fashinnovation has long championed the intersection of fashion and entrepreneurship, and Tahari’s journey represents the type of real-world business story that continues to inspire founders and industry leaders across generations.
The documentary screening was followed by an intimate conversation with Tahari and filmmaker David Serero, moderated by Dr. Suzet McKinney, President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance.
The program also included a Fashion Design Legacy Award presentation, recognizing Tahari’s lasting contribution to the industry.
At a time when the fashion conversation is increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, new technologies and rapid transformation, Tahari’s story provided an essential reminder: enduring brands are built through vision, discipline, creativity and a deep understanding of people.
His legacy is not simply about where American fashion has been. It is also a source of inspiration for the entrepreneurs shaping what comes next.
Fashinnovation in Chicago: Connecting Leaders, Ideas and Opportunities
Beyond the Summit’s programming, Fashinnovation’s participation represented another opportunity to strengthen relationships across the American fashion ecosystem.
As a strategic communications partner, Fashinnovation supported the event’s industry visibility and helped connect the Summit with relevant voices and relationships from its broader network.
Founder and CEO Marcelo Guimarães attended the Summit in Chicago, connecting with designers, executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders throughout the gathering.
Fashinnovation’s role in helping facilitate Elie Tahari’s involvement was a particularly strong example of the platform’s approach to industry collaboration: building bridges between established leaders, new markets and opportunities.
For Fashinnovation, partnerships such as this go beyond event visibility. They are about strengthening the relationships and conversations that support the business of fashion.
Less noise. More substance.
Artificial Intelligence Meets Fashion Creativity
The Summit began its main programming with The AI Edit: Navigating the New Era of Fashion & Creativity.
The panel featured Maya Leeb, founder of Carmeleon; Brittany Jones, Senior AI Sales Specialist at Microsoft; and Jay Carlile, AI Solutions Executive at CDW.
Moderated by Xochil Herrera, founder of The Chicago Pattern Maker, the conversation addressed the growing influence of artificial intelligence on fashion and creative industries.
From design development and creative workflows to operational efficiency and the ways businesses engage customers, AI is changing how fashion companies operate.
For brands of different sizes, the opportunity lies in finding practical applications that enhance creativity while helping teams work more effectively.
The discussion reflected one of the industry’s most important questions: how can businesses embrace emerging technologies without losing the distinctive human perspective that defines fashion?
For Fashinnovation, AI remains a central part of the conversation around the future of fashion commerce and entrepreneurship.
Jeffrey Banks: The Long Game of American Style
Fashion moves quickly, but building a legacy takes time.
That perspective was central to The Long Game: Designing the Past, Present & Future of American Style, featuring celebrated American designer Jeffrey Banks.
In conversation with Whitney Reynolds, host of The Whitney Reynolds Show, Banks brought decades of industry experience into a discussion about the evolution of American fashion.
The session offered an opportunity to consider the connection between heritage, creative identity, design and the changing business landscape.
At a time when fashion is often defined by the next trend or technological breakthrough, the conversation offered a longer-term perspective on creative careers and the importance of developing an enduring point of view.
Together with Tahari’s appearance, Banks’ participation helped connect American fashion’s history with the ambitions of the next generation.
Built to Last: Preserving Fashion’s Cultural Heritage
Innovation is not always about creating something new.
Sometimes, it means developing the knowledge, techniques and systems required to preserve what already exists.
The session Built to Last: The Hidden Architecture of Fashion Preservation & Performance explored the specialized work behind garments used and preserved by some of Chicago’s leading cultural institutions.
The panel featured Ellie Cotey of the Joffrey Ballet, Jessica Pushor of the Chicago History Museum and Kim Buetzow of Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Moderated by Melissa Gamble, Associate Professor at Columbia College Chicago, the conversation examined the intersection of costume management, preservation, performance and cultural history.
Clothing can represent far more than a commercial product. It can carry memories, document historical moments, preserve artistic traditions and connect generations.
The panel expanded the definition of fashion innovation by highlighting the people and expertise responsible for protecting the industry’s cultural legacy.
Sustainability, Materials and the Future of Fashion Production
Another important part of the Summit addressed the industry’s evolving relationship with responsible production and material innovation.
The Sustainable Shift: Innovation, Materials & the Future of Fashion brought together Cecile Chazot of Northwestern University, Jamie Hayes of Production Mode and Melissa Stock of Freedom Business Alliance.
The conversation was moderated by Nicole Ruiz, CEO of the Apparel Industry Board, Inc.
The panel examined how materials, manufacturing approaches, innovation and changing business expectations are influencing fashion’s future.
Sustainability is increasingly connected to the broader economics of the industry — how products are designed, where they are manufactured, how supply chains operate and how businesses create long-term value.
Rather than treating sustainability as a separate conversation, the session positioned it within the industry’s continuing transformation.
For entrepreneurs and established brands alike, these questions are becoming an essential part of strategic decision-making.
The Art of Couture: Why Craftsmanship Still Matters
The Summit concluded its main programming with The Art of Couture: Why Craftsmanship Will Always Define Luxury, featuring designer CD Greene in conversation with Dionne Williams, founder of D. Williams Public Relations.
The conversation focused on the craftsmanship, technical knowledge and creative discipline behind couture.
In an industry increasingly shaped by digital tools, automation and faster production cycles, craftsmanship continues to represent a distinctive source of value.
Couture is not simply about creating beautiful garments. It is about precision, artistic expression, expertise and the ability to transform creative ideas into exceptional physical products.
The session reinforced the continuing relevance of human skill in the luxury sector.
As fashion embraces new technologies, the knowledge and traditions behind great design remain essential to its identity.
It was a fitting conclusion to a Summit that explored the industry’s future without losing sight of the creative foundations that sustain it.
Chicago’s Growing Role in Fashion and Innovation
The Chicago Fashion Summit also highlighted the importance of regional fashion ecosystems.
While New York, Paris, Milan and London remain major global fashion capitals, cities such as Chicago contribute through their own creative communities, educational institutions, manufacturing capabilities, cultural organizations and entrepreneurial networks.
With nearly four decades of history supporting Chicago’s apparel and sewn-products industry, AIBI continues to play an important role in connecting the people and resources needed to strengthen the local ecosystem.
The 2026 Summit brought that mission to life through a program that combined established fashion leaders with technology professionals, educators, entrepreneurs and cultural institutions.
From the Chicago premiere of Elie Tahari’s documentary to discussions of AI, sustainability and couture, the event reflected the many perspectives required to build a stronger and more innovative fashion industry.
The gathering also created opportunities for attendees to connect beyond the formal programming through networking and relationship-building.
For Fashinnovation, this kind of collaboration represents an important part of expanding industry connections across cities and communities.
Looking Ahead: Fashion’s Future Is Built Through Connection
If there was one idea connecting the conversations throughout the Chicago Fashion Summit 2026, it was that fashion’s next chapter will be shaped by the relationship between innovation, entrepreneurship and human creativity.
Elie Tahari’s journey demonstrated the resilience and vision required to create an enduring fashion business.
The technology conversations explored new tools and possibilities.
The sustainability and preservation panels highlighted the importance of responsibility and cultural continuity.
And the discussions surrounding American style and couture reminded attendees that craftsmanship and creative identity remain at the heart of the industry.
Together, these perspectives offered a broader understanding of what it means to move fashion forward.
Fashinnovation was proud to support the Chicago Fashion Summit as a strategic communications partner and contribute to the connections that helped bring Elie Tahari into this important industry conversation.
We look forward to continuing to collaborate with organizations, designers, executives and innovators who believe in the power of bringing people together.
Because fashion’s future is not shaped by ideas alone.
It is shaped by the people who turn those ideas into action.
Less noise. More substance.
