When Liz Williams couldn't find a new winter coat after hers was at the end of its long life, the Oak Park designer made her own — and launched a new business called The Checkroom.

Why it matters: Shoppers are moving away from fast fashion, seeking ways to replace cheaply and unethically made clothes with high-quality, well-crafted items.

Backstory: As a former theater costumer, seamstress and designer, Williams had the skill set to create her own high-quality coat.

What they're saying: "When someone's like, 'Oh my gosh, the quality exceeded my expectations. This reminded me of the coats my mom used to have or my grandma used to have.' That's my favorite kind of feedback to get and that makes me know that I'm on the right track," Williams tells Axios.

Zoom out: The Checkroom will be featured with other local designers Friday and Saturday as part of a Warehouse Sale at Sophia Reyes Design in North Center.

Read more about The Checkroom

More sustainable shopping:

👗 Chicago Fair Trade is hosting its first Sidewalk Sale with discounts from fair trade brands and giveaways. | Leland Avenue (Uptown) | Saturday, noon- 5pm | Details

👖 Illinois Vintage Fest features more than 100 vendors with a selection of vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles and more. | DuPage County Fairgrounds | Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm | Details

🤑 $20 & Under Street Fest, presented by Chicago Vintage Fest, sells hats, vinyl records, vintage T-shirts, jewelry and more all for, yes, under $20. Plus, live music and DJs. | 35th St. between S. Damen and S. Archer | Saturday and Sunday, noon-6pm | Details

💍 Driehaus Summer Market features vintage jewelry and other unique finds. | Driehaus Museum | Saturday, 11am-5pm | Details

The annual Bud Billiken Parade takes to the streets this weekend and reminds us that summer is slipping away.

• But there is still plenty of time to enjoy all Chicago has to offer.

Friday

🥳 Northalsted Market Days features several stages of music, drag shows, DJs, a Lady Gaga tribute, food booths, vendors and a gay old (and young) time. | Halsted between Belmont and Addison | $20 suggested donation, $65+ for VIP | Friday-Sunday | Details

🤣 Windy City Comedy Fest features more than 50 comedians, 20 performances, industry showcases and a live comedy special recording. | Multiple locations | $10+ | Through Sunday | Details

🎭 Court Theatre presents "It's Nation Time: An Evening of Black Cinema," a double-feature screening of William Greaves' "Nationtime" and Skip Norman's "Cultural Nationalism." | Logan Center for the Arts | Free | Friday, 6:30pm | Details

Saturday

🥁 The Bud Billiken Parade and Festival marks the start of the school season with dozens of marching bands, drill and dance teams, and donated school supplies, along with plenty of politicians shaking hands in an election year. | Starts at King Drive and 39th and ends in Washington Park | Saturday, 10am-4pm | Details

🥟 Pierogi Fiesta rolls out in Rogers Park's Jarvis Square with pierogi, margaritas, live music and vendors. | Saturday, 1-10pm | Details

Sunday

🥦 Veggie Fest in Lisle serves up two days of food, music, cooking demos and more. | Danada South Park | Free | Saturday-Sunday | Details

🇷🇸 Serbfest celebrates Chicago's large Serbian community with music, food and culture. | Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral | Free | Through Sunday | Details

Next week

🧄 The 15th annual Garlic Fest in north suburban Highwood rolls out with garlic-infused foods, a garlic trivia contest, live music and family-friendly activities. | Everts Park | Wednesday, 4:30-9pm | Details

More events

From feel-good TV to fear-inducing film, here's what's new this week.

Ted Lasso — Season 4 comedy available now on Apple TV.

• After a stint back home in Kansas City, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) returns to AFC Richmond to build a second-division women's soccer team.

FX's The Shards — Drama series available now on Hulu.

• In the Ryan Murphy show, aspiring writer Bret (Igby Rigney) — part of a 1980s Los Angeles prep school social circle — becomes fixated on a mysterious new student as terror grows around a local serial killer.
• Behind the scenes: It's an adaptation of the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, who also wrote "American Psycho" and "Less Than Zero."

The Last House — Sci-fi thriller available Friday on Netflix.

• A couple (Greta Lee and Wagner Moura) and their children find themselves sealed inside their home. They must ration supplies and face the looming threat outside.

Go deeper: See last week's picks and more new titles this week