The Chicago handmade clothing scene is not limited to the small, independent businesses in the city. If you want to support the local economy, there are many great options. Listed below are some of our favorite shops in Chicago. These include Squasht Boutique, Mata Traders, Metropolis Coffee, RefuSHE, and more. Find the perfect handmade clothing for you and your wardrobe from a Chicago-area shop. Read on for more information!
Squasht Boutique
This funky Chicago designer label specializes in quirky outfits with a hippie twist. You'll find funky dresses, reversible hats, headbands, and tunics. The unique items are designed to be worn in a variety of ways, so you can feel as cool as your inner hippie. Guests who visit Squasht Boutique will also be surprised by the variety of accessories and jewelry in store.
The shop specializes in local clothing made in Chicago by independent designers. The owner Lesley Timpe studied fashion design at Spain's Maestro Mateo Design School. Her signature pieces include vintage-modern dresses and retro-styled handmade hats. The clothing is handmade and features unique accessories such as handbags, reversible hats, and jewelry. There are also lots of surprises to be discovered on your journey to Squasht.
Mata Traders
If you're looking for ethical fashion, you've probably heard of Mata Traders. The Chicago-based company creates items in cooperatives in India and Nepal, where women make their clothing. The designs are colorful and globally inspired, and the women who create the items offer a way to empower themselves. Mata Traders believes that a woman's dollar can make a difference, and their clothing reflects that belief. They also sell their products in more than 400 retail stores in the U.S.
The brand's unique style is rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the countries from which its garments are made. Their designers are motivated by social causes and strive to give their consumers unique items with a unique story. The handmade designs are sourced from artisans in India and Nepal to create beautiful, comfortable clothing. The products are made with sustainable and fair trade methods, and the company's prices reflect their quality. For a variety of clothing styles, visit Mata Traders' website.
Metropolis Coffee
While you're in Chicago, make sure to stop by the city's many local businesses for a cup of coffee, a unique souvenir, or handmade clothing. If you're into sustainability, you might also be interested in learning more about the Metropolis Coffee Company, a coffee roasting and wholesale company in the city. Located at 1039 W. Granville Avenue, their coffee is certified fair trade and serves hundreds of restaurants and cafes in the United States and Canada. They are also proud to donate $2 from every pound of beans sold to charity and have won awards for sustainable business practices and a commitment to social responsibility.
In addition to coffee, the event will feature handmade goods and furniture. The show features wares by Carson Maddox, -ism Furniture, Lagomorph, Navillus Woodworks, Sap Designs, Thomeworks, and zakrose. The event runs on Friday, September 16 from 6 p.m. to midnight. On Saturday, September 17, the event will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a virtual passport that will allow attendees to visit all three venues and enter a raffle.
RefuSHE
Designed with refugee women in mind, RefuSHE handmade clothing supports young refugees through its Artisan Collective, a social enterprise that teaches entrepreneurship skills to refugee women in East Africa. The profits from artisan collective sales are reinvested in the organization's programs, allowing refugee women to support themselves and their families. The artisan collective's handmade clothing is sold in a unique boutique setting in Chicago.
The RefuSHE clothing Chicago shop supports an organization in Kenya that serves unaccompanied refugee girls. In addition to selling handmade clothing, Soko Space also sells personal items and home and garden items made by women in Africa. All proceeds support programs run by the Global Alliance for Africa. In addition, Super Slippers offers felted wool slippers made in Kyrgyzstan, while Ten Thousand Villages sells fair-trade goods from artisans in Africa.
Malia Designs
Located in Chicago, Malia Designs has been a socially responsible brand for over a decade. The company uses recycled materials from mass apparel companies and utilizes every scrap of thread to create a high-quality product. Its mission is to provide the best quality clothing possible, while at the same time helping people from underdeveloped countries get the same opportunity as the wealthy. Their mission is to create sustainable clothing that meets the highest standards and aims to fight the global problem of human trafficking.
Malia Designs is an ethical brand of handcrafted Cambodian clothing and accessories. Their products are ethically made by women in the region, and your purchase helps prevent human trafficking. The company has donated over $160,000 to various human trafficking organizations since 2005, and many of its products are affordable and high-quality. This makes Malia Designs an ideal way to give back while purchasing quality items. If you are looking for ethical and beautiful clothing, look no further than Malia Designs.
Sweet Beginnings LLC
Social enterprises are a growing trend in the clothing industry, and one of the most successful in Chicago is Sweet Beginnings, LLC. Its mission is to provide jobs and job training for residents of the North Lawndale neighborhood. The company also produces all-natural skin care products using local bees, and sells urban honey under its beeloveTM brand. In addition to its handmade clothing, Sweet Beginnings also manages bee farms throughout Chicagoland, including the O'Hare International Airport and the Roosevelt University Schaumburg campus.
The social enterprise provides a unique product for the community and addresses a pressing need in overcrowded prisons. Since opening in 2008, the company has employed more than 500 people, and the recidivism rate of their former employees is very low. Its recidivism rate is below 8%, compared to the national average of 40%, and a much lower rate than the state's average of 55 percent. This social enterprise has received recognition from government entities, media outlets, and funders.