The Windy City is more than prevalent in the smash-hit television show Empire, but many Chicagoans may not be aware that the stylish wardrobes they see on the show are made by one of their own.
According to local news affiliate Fox 32, a fashion designer named Platinum struck gold when the wardrobe team for the popular show entered his store in search of the perfect threads for their stars.
Platinum is the CEO of Iridium Clothing, which is a Wicker Park boutique store. He and his wife spent seven long years building the business until the crew of Empire stumbled into their store on one fateful afternoon.
“We didn’t really know what the show was going to be about,” Platinum said.
Nor did did they know that their clothing would soon be seen and adored by millions of crazed fans all over the country.
According to The Guardian, a character from the show, Cookie, is a legitimate fashion icon. She’s known for her sleek and often exorbitant styles, featuring elegant linen ensembles with a wide assortment of accessories.
Considering how hot things can get on the show, it’s a good thing Cookie likes to wear linen. In hot weather, people dressed in linen are found to show the skin temperature 3°-4°C below that of their cotton-wearing friends.
You wouldn’t catch Cookie dead in cotton, and you won’t catch Platinum complaining about his newfound fame. He says business is booming ever since his apparel debuted on the show, and he and his wife couldn’t be happier.
“I’m very happy and I feel very fortunate. It’s been amazing and we definitely look forward to continuing our relationship with them,” said Platinum.
Iridium Clothing creates unisex designs with bold patterns. They offer both fitted and baggy clothing with your choice of zippers, straps, and other unique materials.
Despite the grandiose undertones of Empire, Platinum likes to think that he designs clothing that appeals to people from all types of backgrounds.
“The goal of the brand is to create amazing pieces that people can actually afford,” he said.
It looks like you don’t need to run a major hip-hop record label to dress like one.
