One of the bigger themes of ComplexCon Chicago's Community Week has been education, which is shaping up to be a paramount issue going forward for Complex. For Thursday's event, a panel titled "Streetwear.Edu" was held at the Columbia College of Chicago, giving a group of fashion-forward students coming from local organizations like Art of Culture, YOUmedia, and students participating in Columbia College's summer programs the opportunity to hear local streetwear legends to discuss the history of streetwear, why Chicago is so influential in the game, as well as giving the youth some tools in their own ventures into the industry.
The panel featured Dave Jeff, the creator of Phli, which is the first streetwear brand and boutique in the city of Chicago, alongside Fashion Geek founder Alonzo Jackson. Moderated by Complex's Director of Content Strategy Karizza Sanchez, the students were given a brief look at the ups and downs of being a creative in the streetwear culture. Everything from investing in your own community and the importance of Kanye West's influence on the game to understanding more than just coming up with a cool design or logo were discussed.
After the panel, the students in the room were then given a hat-making workshop, which featured materials provided by '47. They featured different empowering logos and designs that the students pressed onto the hats themselves, and were then able to take home.
That's not all the students received, though. Not only did everyone in attendance received two-day passes to ComplexCon Chicago, but as a part of Complex's education initiative with Parsons (which officially launches later this year), Complex and Yellowbrick will be donating an estimated $75,000 in education in the forms of free logins to the students in attendance. Who knows, maybe with the tools these Chicago students receive in this course, Complex might be nurturing the next streetwear icons.
There are more pictures from the event below; be sure to keep it locked as ComplexCon Chicago's Community Week wraps up.
ComplexCon is coming to Chicago on July 20-21, 2019. Experience the festival and exhibition at McCormick Place, featuring performances, panels, and more. For ticket info, click here.
