Another rising star in Chicago's fashion industry is designer, Anna Hovet of Anna Hovet Designs. The line is comprised of trendy color block works of art. Who knew fleece and jersey could ever be this sexy and chic? Apparently, Anna did. She has come up with a perfect mix of hot, sexy off-shoulder dresses, backless dresses, hoodies and leggings that can be worn anywhere. A trendsetter indeed, Anna's magic turns fleece and jersey into hip styles that take a dramatic turn from normal.
Anna started out as an artist, but around the age of 11, she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Fashion Design and Fashion Illustration. After graduation, she worked as a stylist and fashion show coordinator at Akira-Chicago, and later for Kids Headquarters designing for Ecko, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, and Target, but was laid off due to the recession. In 2009, Anna was a Designer in Residence at the Chicago Fashion Incubator, and later interned for designer, Lara Miller. Shortly after that, in 2009, Anna launched Anna Hovet Designs.
Anna's designs have been worn by Chicago's own celebrity and Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson, and have also been featured in several publications and LXTV's 1st Look. Currently, Anna is one of the design contestants on the online Kenmore Reality Show So You Wanna Be A Designer.
Anna says she prefers working with jersey, sweatshirt fleece, and wool, and describes her collection this way:
My style is very young, colorful, and edgy. For my spring/summer 2011 collection I took on a more playful approach than in previous seasons. Aesthetically inspired by Southwest Native American artwork, the collection incorporates design details including braiding, quilting, and screen printing. The collection features a wide range of garment styles including multi-functional sweatshirts, feminine dresses, screen printed tops, a capri-length romper, and an asymmetrical skort.
We asked Anna what advice she would give to aspiring fashion designers out there:
They will need an artistic background, good sense of color and style, sewing construction knowledge, and computer skills.
As an emerging fashion designer, Anna feels Chicago has a long way to go to be an established fashion capital. But, there is a ton of opportunity in Chicago. A new generation of designers is developing rapidly in the city, which I believe will help Chicago propel their image in the fashion world, Anna says.
In the next five years, the Anna Hovet Designs line will be selling wholesale internationally, as well as retail online, and offering at least 3 different lines. The Anna Hovet Designs line can be purchased at Cerato Boutique in Chicago, and other stores around the country. Price points for the line are between $30-$250. Visit her website to view her designs and keep up
with her on Facebook.