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[title]Gillion Carrara
Carrara’s buzz cut, all-black attire, oversize glasses, and enormous rings and cuffs (all made by her) command your attention. But it’s the passion with which the 67-year-old helms the School of the Art Institute’s Fashion Resource Center, an archive of couture clothing and fashion publications Carrara founded 25 years ago, that makes her such a remarkable cultural figure in this city. Carrara’s dedication to teaching young artists about the history and theories of clothing design, and to encouraging fashion-related conversations in the community through FRC lectures, is unrivaled. Inquire about “modern radicals” in fashion, a Robert Graham garment or the thinking behind her eponymous accessories line, including metal and horn cuffs and natural-hair makeup brushes, and she’ll talk for as long as you can stay.—Jessica Herman