Nelissa Carrillo radiates a warmth and fierceness that draws you toward her. From the moment you first meet the young designer, you feel welcomed and seen. The longing to make this world a more beautiful and compassionate place guides her through life and drove her to start her genderless clothing brand, STRONGER WISER EVERYDAY (SWE).

Brandon Frein has seven Rachel Comey jumpsuits in her closet, a grey streak in her hair, and a “F*** Trump” sticker on her phone. Spirited, lively, and with a personality big enough to fill up a room, she’s likely to make a lasting impression on everyone she meets. With a love for fashion as deep enough as her love for people, she thrives both as a wardrobe consultant and professor, and despite being in her 50’s, her dreams for the future keep getting bigger.

My perfect happiness is a life where I can create freely and be able to sustain myself through my craft. We spend so much time working to live, I would rather work to build a life.

Fariha Wajid is in pursuit of perfect imperfections. Wajid is the creator of INKMADE, a sustainable company that produces hand-made and hand-printed scarves and stationery. She started INKMADE in 2015, after creating the woodblock print prototype in a product design class while attending the Illinois Institute of Technology.

I don’t every think I ever realized I wanted to be a creative I think it’s just something I’ve always embodied as a person. I’ve just always been creative. I’ve never wanted to be or do anything else. Will just one thing I don’t ever think I’ll stop tryna be a superhero!

Whenever I can sit with the sun on my face, I think that’s pretty close, and I don’t take it for granted living in Chicago. But I’ve also decided that happiness and perfection aren’t generally compatible, and I’m pretty content with a little imperfection in life.

Happiness is entirely circumstantial; so my idea of perfect happiness is when I’m playing. Playing while creating or while I’m with the people I love; or even more perfectly… When those two things happen together.