Businessman and philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus founded Driehaus Design Initiative (DDI) with a mission to promote and encourage design education and to foster public appreciation and understanding of all aspects of fashion design and history.  

DDI hosts the annual Driehaus Fashion Awards, where selected students showcase their designs in a runway show competition. The event was co-founded by Skip Grisham, who served as artistic director and student mentor—and one of the Chicago fashion industry’s greatest benefactors—until his passing in 2020. 

The Driehaus Fashion Awards are professionally produced by DDI Chief Executive Officer Tracey Tarantino and her company, ZZAZZ Productions. 

A panel of industry experts judge their collections and the top designers are awarded cash honorariums. Past participants have achieved success after the show- launching careers in the industry or establishing their own design businesses, and gaining national recognition. 

DDI also awards grant funding to the design schools and other non-profits on an annual basis.