In October 2020, Driehaus Design Initiative presented the Runway to Showroom®: Driehaus Business of Fashion Symposium, a virtual event, in partnership with Columbia College Chicago.
The Symposium consisted of industry-led conversations and an interactive Q&A focusing on fashion business topics, to help those in the Chicago fashion industry looking to expand their business knowledge. The Symposium was open to students, as well as established professionals.
Topics included: Starting a Business: The Necessities, Resources for Your Business, Business Structures, Branding & Trademark Issues for Fashion Designers and Financing a Fashion Business Today.
We would like to extend our gratitude to Symposium co-chair Melissa Gamble, Assistant Professor, Fashion Studies at Columbia College Chicago; and our panelists:
Gary Wassner, CEO of Hilldun Corporation
Esther Barron, Clinical Professor of Law & Director, Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Kenya Merritt, Chief Business Officer, City of Chicago Small Business Center
Nichole Rairigh, The Apparel Agency
Marci Rolnik Walker, Director of Education, Lawyers for the Creative Arts
