Name: The Shops - Back To School Edition
Start: 2026-08-01T11:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-08-01T20:00:00-05:00
Location: Water Tower Place (Level 3 Next to JJill and White House Black Market)

The Shops is a pop-up open to the public and to Water Tower Place attendees during this weekend.
About this Event

FashionBar LLC presents The Shops!

The Shops: Back to School Edition will take place this August at Water Tower Place! Get ready for the new school year with fashion, accessories, and essentials from local designers and brands. This pop-up is open to the public and Water Tower Place shoppers, offering a curated shopping experience on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

The Shops is a fashion and accessories pop-up by FashionBar Chicago, hosted at Water Tower Place in downtown Chicago — one of the city’s premier high-end retail destinations.

We are seeking fashion designers and brands to participate as vendors in a 9x9 space for a single day (Saturday or Sunday). This is a valuable opportunity to market your brand, gain commercial exposure, meet new clients, and promote or sell your goods and services. The Shops is open to both the public and Water Tower Place shoppers throughout the weekend.

Vendor Requirements

Participating brands must have consistent branding with an active website and social media presence. FashionBar prioritizes brand identity that aligns with your target audience and lifestyle offering. Because The Shops is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, branding is essential to engage customers and business partners. We host a high-end retail experience and limit participation to 4–6 carefully curated brands.

How to Apply

To secure your pop-up, please call 312-532-4210 (Monday–Friday, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM).Provide the following information for review:

Brand Name
Website
Social Media Handles
Business Phone Number
Email Address

If your brand aligns with the categories of fashion, beauty, or wellness, you will receive an invitation and access code to complete your vendor ticket purchase on Eventbrite.

What We Provide

(1) 6-foot Rack or
(1) 6-foot Table with 2 Chairs

What You Bring

A curated selection of fashion, beauty, or wellness products (quality over quantity)
Black table lining (if selecting a table option)
Branded hangers (no plastic or wire hangers)
Marketing and promotional materials
Your own payment system

Hours of Operation

The Shops follows regular Water Tower Place hours of operation. [Click here to view mall hours.]

Next Steps in Participating as a Vendor

Once payment has been received, we will send you The Shops Check-In Itinerary Document, which includes:

Important dates and times leading up to the event
Set-up and breakdown instructions
Insurance recommendations (using Event Insurance for vendor coverage — not required, but suggested)

If you’d like to sign up for future FashionBar Shops pop-ups, please complete the required Google Form thoroughly by clicking >>HERE<< so we can collect the details needed prior to booking.

Not Brand Ready Yet?

If your business isn’t fully prepared to participate, FashionBar offers branding, marketing, design, and development services to elevate your brand. Our team specializes in go-to-market strategies, consulting, and education to help you grow. Learn more at www.fashionbarchicago.com or www.fashionbartheshows.com.

For any questions, please email:

“Love the Fashion, Raise the Bar!”