Name:
Diego Rocha

Fashion Focus Role:
Designer of leather and exotic handbags

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
Seeing my dearest friends' work and to expose my "2008" collection. The attention to design, texture and color make it my best ever!

Bragging rights:
- Finalist for the Handbag Awards in NYC sponsored by Henri Bendel
- Winner of Chicago's 2008 Rising Star Award

Can be found shopping at:
Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macy's

Name:
Carolyn Pelissero

Fashion Focus Role:
Marketing Director for Gen Art Chicago—we are the premiere night of Fashion Focus with our runway event Fresh Faces on Wednesday, and Shop Chicago, our big shopping extravaganza that Saturday.

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
Toasting my co-workers and participating designers at Exchange West (our after party spot) when our Fresh Faces runway show is over and a total success!

Bragging rights:
- Director of Marketing for Phil Stefani Restaurants for 3 years
- Worked for Chicago magazine in their marketing department
- Member of Mayor Daley's Fashion Council

Can be found shopping at:
Una Mae's, all the boutiques east of Damen on Division like Bonnie & Clydes and New'd, and of course... (blushing) Forever 21 on Michigan Avenue, I can be in a bad mood, go in there, spend $20 and get happy-and an outfit!



Name:
Marcia Callaghan

Fashion Focus Role:
Gen Art's Regional Event Coordinator

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
The lights, cameras, and ACTION!

Bragging rights:
- Marketing Manager for U of I's Arts and Entertainment magazine "Buzz Weekly"
- Gen Art Summer 2007 – Intern
- Recent grad | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Can be found shopping at:
Thrift stores...the Salvation Army this week!



Name:
Lauren Hurley

Fashion Focus Role:
Event Producer

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
The moment right before the show begins when everyone's anticipation is electric.

Bragging rights:
- At such a young age, I'm fortunate to have had the opportunity to pursue both of my passions!

Can be found shopping at:
Michigan Avenue without a doubt. I love when high-end boutiques are all mixed together with funky off-the-racks.

Name:
5p1t
Daryl Sneed, Executive Director
Richard Morse, Creative Director

Fashion Focus Role:
Presenting our 2009 Spring/Summer Collection as part of Macy's runway show on Oct 07; this will be our first Fashion Focus appearance

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
Daryl - seeing the other Chicago designers and the entire Chicago fashion community come together
Richard - watching our collection on the runway along with the other chicago designers; also seeing our first retail collection on the floor in Macy's State Street

Bragging rights:
- The design label was selected as a participant in the 2008 "Chicago Is...Red Hot" runway show featuring emerging Chicago designers
- 5p1t was recently awarded the 2008 Rising Star Award - Apparel by Fashion Group International in Chicago

Can be found shopping at:
Daryl - untitled, barney's co-op
Richard - oak street and bucktown

Name:
John Gialluisi

Fashion Focus Role:
As Creative Director of Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas, I will be cultivating the hair looks for the runway. Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas is the official hairstyling and hair color sponsor of Fashion Focus Chicago.

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
As a stylist, it's inspiring to work with the designers and models to create looks that compliment the clothes and make a statement on the runway. Along with Fashion Focus Chicago, Mario Tricoci hosted a modeling competition this summer called Mario, Make Me a Model. Our five finalists will be walking in the Dress Code show 10/3, so I'm excited to see how they perform on the runway.

Bragging rights:
- Responsible for the creative image of Mario Tricoci, which includes introducing fresh hair styles that align with global beauty and fashion trends
- been featured in magazines including the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Modern Salon Magazine; has appeared on television segments, led manufacturers' teams for trade shows, and participated in international fashion weeks in Paris, London, and New York

Can be found shopping at:
Prada, Barney's and Neiman's

Name:
Jessa Brinkmeyer

Fashion Focus Role:
I am curating an exhibit titled MoSS: Museum of Sustainable Style. (www.mosschicago.org) It will feature clothing, accessories and furniture from local designers using sustainable materials and processes. The exhibit will demonstrate the beauty and innovation of sustainable design and also communicate what it means and why it's important.

Most looking forward to during Fashion Focus week:
Definitely MoSS of course as this is a very exciting endeavor for me and Pivot. But I'm also looking forward to the Gen Art Fresh Faces show, as it's always my favorite and Frei Designs will be part of it this year - a line that I carry in Pivot. I'm looking forward to the energy that the week generates for the fashion industry here.

Bragging rights:
- Northwestern University graduate
- Opened Pivot in September 2007 as Chicago's first eco-boutique
- Pivot was voted as Daily Candy's "Most innovative, inspiring, and promising designer or boutique" in their Sweetest Things 2007 awards
- Chicago Sun-Times' Chicago Women 30 and under "Style and Substance" series

Can be found shopping at:
Pivot! Other than Pivot, I love my neighboring West Loop boutiques Bess & Loie and Koros. And then A Cooler Planet for anything home-related