Tony Long, founder of FashionBar, Chicago is a person who realizes that the city has a lot more to offer than most people think. He’s someone who feels deeply about Chicago, leading to his strong sense of purpose and responsibility to create spaces for the fashion-focused people who reside here.

“I’m here to build a business around fashion,” Tony says.

Though Chicago is home to a number of art and fashion-centric educational institutions like Art Institute of Chicago and Illinois Institute of Art; students don’t always have a job in that field when they graduate. Of the nearly 800 students who graduate from these schools annually, the majority who are placed, don’t find work here — they’re sent to New York and L.A.

“It’s a broken promise. We’re trying to fix that for the younger generations,” he claims.

He’s well on his way to making good on that promise.

FashionBar Chicago is dedicated to building Chicago up as a new epicenter of fashion for the Midwest; adding to the likes of offerings in cities like Los Angeles and New York City. They provide opportunities for training, exposure and marketing for each new designer that comes on board. Their designers provide high-quality Prêt-à-Porter, also known as Ready-To-Wear products for their clients. Also in their repertoire, are custom or avant-garde garments that they claim

are, \”innovative\” and \”push the boundaries of structure, form, design, fit, textiles and technology.\”

He is also highly dedicated to providing a means to ending poverty and crime in the city. “If someone knows the value of what they can contribute to society, they’re going to commit and interact in that society as functional adults. If they don’t have the opportunity for jobs, then they revert to crime.”

It’s an old adage that still holds true. Many of Chicago’s youth lack something as simple as direction and support. FashionBar plans to be there as their overall support system; even going so far as to become the first and only fashion company in Chicago to allow trans-identified people walk the runway in their shows. It’s why they were tapped to participate as the only fashion company in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade.

“We’re inclusive, that is the future of fashion,” says Long.

Tony is a multi-faceted person who truly believes fashion can help us express ourselves through clothing and accessories. By doing so, he says, “…it leaves no room for questioning who we are,” as individuals. All of his efforts with FashionBar stems from his desire to be true to himself and what he feels is his calling. He urges others to do the same.

Tony asks, “Who wants to live a superficial life, when self-truth is the most important thing?”

Photo Credits: Tony Long: Fashion Bar & UMAG