Apparel Industry Board, Inc.

The Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI) is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to uniting, advocating for, and advancing the fashion and apparel industry. Founded in 1987, AIBI connects creative talent with the education, resources, and relationships needed to build successful businesses and lasting careers.

Working at the intersection of fashion, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, AIBI supports emerging designers, established apparel professionals, students, and small business owners. Its programming includes business incubation, apprenticeships, educational opportunities, shared resources, and industry events. By connecting learning with professional experience, AIBI helps bridge the gap between education and employment while supporting the growth of independent businesses.

AIBI is also leading an effort to establish a garment district on Chicago’s historic State Street. The vision brings together fashion education, business incubation, production, retail, and creative collaboration—creating a place where designers can build their businesses, students can find pathways into the industry, and the public can experience Chicago fashion. This initiative aims to retain local talent, create economic opportunity, and contribute to the vitality of downtown Chicago.

Through events such as the Chicago Fashion Summit, AIBI connects local audiences with celebrated designers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders for conversations about creativity, technology, sustainability, and the future of fashion. Open to professionals and fashion enthusiasts alike, the Summit celebrates fashion as an art form, a business, and a cultural force.

Central to AIBI’s work is the belief that creative talent needs access to opportunity. Through partnerships with educators, designers, manufacturers, businesses, and community organizations, AIBI is building a stronger Midwest fashion ecosystem and helping people turn creative skills into real income.