If you've spent time on Chicago's thriving beauty, fashion and festival circuit, you likely know Michelle and Melissa Gomez, even if you don't know their names.
The sisters and co-owners of Dynamic Salon in Wicker Park are also the brains and brawn behind the 15-year-old Do Division fashion show.
"We consider ourselves from this community," said Melissa Gomez. "We grew up here. We know the neighborhood. We have seen it grow."
"We’ve been lucky to build partnerships with chambers of commerce. West Town, Wicker Park. Wonderful events for the community. And what they do for the businesses in this neighborhood is incredible. We've been very lucky to build a foundation here and relationships with people like that."
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The sisters' salon roots run deep, like their Hispanic heritage.
"We grew up in a salon, my sister and I," recalls Melissa Gomez. "My mom had a salon also in Ukrainian Village when she first came here from Puerto Rico."
"She was inspiring," Michelle Gomez said of their mom. "And she inspired me."
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Their late father came from Mexico when he was 20 years old. He ran a successful gas station at Damen and Division for 50 years.
Michelle and Melissa took their parents' ambition and skill and used it in their own flourishing salon.
"Both always had entrepreneurial spirit in them and really instilled that in me and my sister. Here we are today 20 years later," Melissa Gomez said.
Now, they continue to pay it forward. Their area at Do Division showcases 20 local vendors and they feature those vendors in their fashion show.
"We have our own footprint at Do Division now with the fashion shows. We feature local businesses and we include everybody. ... Whether it's jewelry and clothing or hair and makeup, we feature them in the fashion show, and they have an opportunity and platform."
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, they also donated free haircuts at Iglesia Unida de Cristo San Lucas in Humboldt Park.
"Whether it's in the salon, in the shows, we always try to give people opportunity."
