Elizabeth Del Castillo and Kelly Whitesell

Biography

Lincoln Park — These best friends founded Eskell in September 2005. The concept was conceived when the duo met during high school in Gary, Indiana. Reuniting two years after graduation, Del Castillo and Whitesell studied clothing construction and design at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Upon graduation, Whittesell enrolled in New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology where she studied fashion design. She also found time to work for designers such as Miguelina and Jane Mayle. Del Castillo completed her degree at Indiana University in Apparel Merchandising and went on to work for Spiegel Catalogue. She specialized in garment and fabric sourcing and has traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East.

In September 2004, Whitesell moved to Chicago to join Del Castillo, and within a year they launched Eskell. September 2005, they opened their first shop by the same name on Chicago’s North Side in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.