Shernett Swaby, Chicago's dark horse

Best known in Chicago fashion for her hand-tailored, couture collection, Jamaican designer Shernett Swaby isn’t aiming to dress the everyday woman boasting a wardrobe of nine-to-five staples. Instead, her romantically tailored designs look better suited for a whimsical cocktail party on a movie set directed by Hollywood’s dark horse Tim Burton—dark and dreamy.

Growing up in Jamaica, young Swaby honed her craftsmanship by religiously sewing her own clothes and creating miniature dresses for dolls. Even at an early age, she had a keen eye for cut that has transcended into her designs today. This prodigious talent brought Swaby to Toronto where she successfully worked for seven years in the fashion industry before being cast in the first season of Project Runway Canada and becoming a top five finalist.

Swaby now resides in Chicago and sells her designs out of a small Humboldt Park boutique called SWABY Showroom, 2459 W. Augusta Blvd. She has proudly labeled her distinctive aesthetic, “edgy,” leaning toward a more masculine edge than a light, feminine feel. She pulls inspiration from the textures in nature and shapes in architecture, approaching each design as a self-proclaimed “fashion artist,” crafting each garment like an artist would paint a canvas.

“I literally cut all the pieces, stitch them together, draw up the patterns and create all the details individually before I attach them to the garment,” said Swaby in an interview with Chitownfashion.com.

With accessories and casual separates starting around $500 to full-length gowns priced closer to $8,000, Swaby’s designer collection is far from a one-stop-shop for fast fashion. The Swaby woman is more of an art collector than a shopper. She’s a daring fashion aficionado who greatly appreciates the value of a garment that’s one-of-a-kind and vigilantly assembled by hand. Swaby’s upscale pieces would never be worn to casually grab a morning coffee—they’d be saved for special occasions like annual dinner parties or high profile events where making a fearless statement with your outfit is critical.

Swaby’s current collection, available in stores and on www.shernettswaby.com, marries structured elements with more organic, visceral notes. The collection’s hard-edged gothic aesthetic is softened with billowing silk scarves, sheer chiffon blouses and bell-sleeved dresses. There’s an eastern influence throughout with origami-like detailing on voluminous skirts and dramatic cocktail dresses. A burnt orange “Sergeant Jacket” is a standout, featuring circular detailing on the shoulders, angular alienesque attachments and asymmetrical sleeves. Paired with her “Stove Pipe Knit Pants,” the total look is signature Swaby—refined and quietly theatrical. 

by Justin Moran