Amor Puerto Rico! In July 2010, De Colon will relocate to the island of Puerto Rico; finding renewed inspiration in the beauty of this tropical paradise. Stay tuned . . .
Chicago-based couturier James De Colón is a native New Yorker with strong ties to his homeland San Juan, Puerto Rico. De Colón and partner, Creative Director-Wayne Reddrick, have been an integral part of the Chicago fashion community for the last ten years. They have operated two successful boutiques in the inner city; and are now in preparation to launch the online DE COLÓN boutique.
Designing apparel from ready-to-wear to high-fashion eveningwear, as well as, custom designs for a legion of private clientele: De Colón designs with real women in mind, women who are confident enough in their lives to wear clothing that is unique, sophisticated and classic. Says De Colón, “My designs have longevity, and can be worn year after year, without going out of style.”
The Windy City has embraced De Colón and he has been featured in all major media, print, network television programs and special events that attract the ‘fashion forward’ from all walks of life. During his years in Chicago, De Colón and Creative Director, Wayne Reddrick have mentored Fashion design students enrolled in Chicago’s most prestigious design schools; Illinois Institute of Art, Columbia College, International Academy of Design and Technology, Harper College, and The Art Institute, offering a hands-on intensive internship program. Having the opportunity to mentor aspiring, young designers has been a constant reward in De Colón’s career. He has served as an important stepping stone for many students seeking to enter this very competitive field.
James is a leader in the Spanish-speaking community and is well respected in the mainstream fashion community as well. De Colón has been a featured designer in Mayor Daley’s cultural initiative, “Chicago Fashion Focus 2007 and 2008”; and one of his gowns, entitled “Flamboyan”, inspired by the flower of Puerto Rico, was featured in Mayor Daley’s city beautification project, Gardens of the Magnificent Mile in 2007. James was honored as a finalist nominee for the prestigious “Latino Entrepreneur of the Year 2007”, by the Chicago Latino Network. In addition to creating new design lines for the 2009-2010 fashion seasons, De Colón and Reddrick are also in preparation for a project that is near to their hearts. They are members of the executive board and production team for the annual Latino Fashion Week Chicago; the first event of its kind in the U.S. designed to highlight the talents of some of the world’s most gifted Latino designers; which will grace the runways this upcoming fall fashion season.
De Colón feels, “There is nothing new about the concept of women’s fashion . . . it’s as old as time. The concept of the designer, however, is always new. I believe that a woman’s wardrobe should be a seamless blend of texture, color and style that exudes glamour, elegance, sensuality, comfort, sophistication – and most important of all – femininity.”
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