Chicago-based designer Maria Pinto hangs it up

A major Chicago-based fashion designer has closed her doors.

Pinto said, ”After 20 years of pursuing my greatest passion and striving to build a successful high-end fashion business, the time has come for a new chapter in my life.”  Read the whole story

Michelle Obama designer Maria Pinto goes out of business

While designers are busy showing their wares in New York, Maria Pinto, whose high-profile customers have included first lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, tells the Chicago’s Sun-Times that she is closing up shop. She is expected to file for bankruptcy.  Read the whole story

Fashion footwear grounded in Coast Salish art

Over the past year, using sharpies and pencils, Louie Gong has transformed shoes popular with the surf and skate crowd into culturally inspired works of art.

The result is eye-popping custom-designed footwear that sells for $200-plus a pair and on which customers are free to express their own identities — like the Irish customer who wanted to incorporate a clover leaf into her shoe design.  Read the whole story