Creating History Through Events
Illinois Fashion History grows from Jess Crane’s longstanding work organizing, moderating, and producing public-facing fashion programs across Chicago and the Midwest. Through leadership with Fashion Group International Chicago, the Apparel Industry Board, Inc., and independent collaborations, Jess creates events that connect research, industry insight, creative practice, and community conversation.
Founder, Illinois Fashion History · Regional Director, FGI Chicago · Managing Board Member, AIBI Chicago
Featured Programs
Selected events and initiatives that reflect Jess Crane’s work in fashion programming, moderation, research, and community building.
Chicago Fashion Summit
2025
Co-Chair, Panel Sponsor & Moderator
As co-chair of the Chicago Fashion Summit committee, Jess Crane helped lead the city’s first fashion-business summit of its kind. She showcased a design by her brand Form Numa, modeled by Delphine Pontvieux in the AIBI designer showcase.
She also sponsored and moderated a panel featuring three rising local designers; Tania Mackey of Niczka, Holly Garrard of Fundae Soles and Shureice Kornegay of Fleeky Friday, creating a platform for emerging talent and a broader conversation about Chicago’s fashion industry and future.
FGI Chicago Presents: A Chat with Past Rising Star Award Winners
2024
Organizer & Moderator
Jess Crane researched FGI Chicago’s Rising Star legacy, identified and located past winners, and organized and moderated this public conversation with previous winner including Tracey Mayer of Tracey Mayer Jewelry, Jivesh Toor of J Toor and Shernett Swaby of Swaby. The program created a living record of the award’s history while connecting generations of Chicago fashion talent.
FGI Chicago Conversations with the Board
Ongoing (2026)
Speaker, Moderator & Video Producer
Jess Crane has contributed to FGI Chicago’s Conversations with the Board series as both a featured speaker and moderator. She also edits program recordings and prepares them for YouTube, extending professional-development conversations beyond the live audience. She developed this series to give FGI Chicago Board Members the opportunity to share their knowledge and resources with the community.
Converge: Elevating Fashion & Retail with Technology
2018
Organizer
Jess Crane organized Converge, a program exploring the intersection of fashion, retail, and technology in Chicago. The event later received special-programming recognition from Fashion Group International headquarters.
FGI Chicago’s 10th Rising Star Awards
2024
Event Committee Co-Chair
As a co-chair on the event committee for FGI Chicago’s 10th Rising Star Awards, Jess Crane helped lead a milestone celebration recognizing emerging talent in Chicago fashion. During the event, her appointment as 2025–2026 Regional Director of FGI Chicago was also announced.
FGI Chicago Blue Jacket Fashion Show Brunch
2025
Event Committee Chair & Speaker
Jess Crane chaired the event committee for FGI Chicago’s Blue Jacket Fashion Show Brunch and spoke at the event as Regional Director. The program featured looks by multiple Chicagoland-area designers and brought together fashion presentation, public engagement, and regional visibility. The event raised over $1,000 for ZERO Prostate Cancer organization.
Selected Programming Archive
Additional programs, panels, trend presentations, networking events, and industry conversations led, moderated, or supported by Jess Crane through FGI Chicago, AIBI Chicago, and independent collaborations.
2026
FGI Chicago Golden Hour: Professional Summer Mixer & Resort Fashion
FGI Chicago Conversations with the Board
Popup Garment District, AIBI
Inside the Lab: AIBI Member Showcase
2025
Chicago Fashion Summit
FGI Chicago: Retro Revival – An Immersive Trend Experience
FGI Chicago Blue Jacket Fashion Show Brunch
FGI Chicago New Year Networking Celebration & Annual Meeting
2024
FGI Chicago’s 10th Rising Star Awards
FGI Chicago S/S 2025 Trend & Styling Presentation
FGI Chicago Presents: A Chat with Past Rising Star Award Winners
2019
FGI Chicago x DG Expo: Interview with Esteemed Chicago Designers
A Chat With: Textile Designers & Hands-On Workshop
FGI Presents A Chat With: Fashion Industry Entrepreneurs
Career Wardrobe Refresh: Runway Recap, Styling & Shopping
2018
Fashion Marketing Seminar and Industry Mixer at DG Expo
Converge: Elevating Fashion & Retail with Technology
Bring This Work to Your Organization
Illinois Fashion History offers public programming, research-driven talks, moderation, panels, and collaborations rooted in fashion history, industry context, and regional cultural storytelling. Programs can be tailored for museums, fashion organizations, schools, libraries, creative businesses, and community initiatives.