Ambar Campos is the Executive Director of the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI), a leading non-profit organization in Chicagoland. With a wealth of experience in business development and community engagement, Ambar passionately oversees AIBI’s mission to empower the local sewn products industry. Her strategic vision and commitment to collaboration have propelled AIBI to the forefront of supporting Chicagoland’s vibrant fashion community. Under her guidance, AIBI offers vital resources, comprehensive mentorship programs, and innovative educational initiatives, creating opportunities for budding talents and established professionals alike. Ambar’s strategic vision and commitment to collaboration have propelled AIBI to the forefront of supporting Chicagoland’s vibrant fashion community

Lacey launched Fireflyline in 2015 to provide technical services and process improvements to those creating cut & sew goods. She works with apparel companies to improve fit and streamline the development process. She spent prior years leading apparel technical design teams, where she found opportunities for process improvement and leveraging technology. Her goal is to remove any pain from product development so designers, pattern-makers, and technical designers can focus on their passions.

Emily Sifrit is the owner of eKaye Collection, a fashion house focused on couture and edgy, timeless design. Originally from south Chicagoland, her story began with an early introduction to sewing and design. By the age of 19, she’d been sewing for 12 years and began building a true business. Her work is recognized internationally, (with features in spaces like Glamour Magazine and the Daily Mail) and continues to focus on the future of the industry while embracing the roots of art, craftsmanship, and expression.

Xochil founded The Chicago Pattern Maker in 2009, and collaborates with brands and factory partners, bringing technical expertise, guidance, and genuine care to the pre-production process of technical design, pattern development, and prototyping. Xochil has a variety of factory floor experiences, including earning a mechanics certification through Union Special, and helping a small brand become fully vertical by helping to set up a factory from the ground up, including staff training and support. Xochil is a member of the SEAMS Association, FGI Chicago, and serves on the Executive Board of the Apparel Industry Board of Illinois. She was named a “Rising Star” by SPESA in 2021. Xochil is an adjunct instructor in Fashion Studies at Columbia College Chicago, where she teaches the Senior Capstone course, and has led several industrial sewing bootcamp classes.

Jessie has over a decade of experience in the performance apparel and soft goods industry, specializing in product development, design, and manufacturing. She has worked with a wide range of products from clothing powered with assistive robotics to haute couture and lingerie to backpacks and upholstery. She is particularly interested in sustainability, education, and lean manufacturing. As the former Director of Production at Kitsbow Cycling Apparel, Jessie helped to build a modern factory from the ground up and brought her expertise and curiosity to lead and teach a new generation of sewers to work in teams utilizing a Made to Order model and Single Piece Flow sewing.