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Pinto 51, is a Chicago based designer and has been in the fashion industry for 16 years. She was forced to close her business in 2002 due to bankruptcy. This was further compounded by a bout of ill health. Despite these adversities, Pinto re -emerged even stronger in 2004. In June 2008 she opened a boutique in her home town Chicago in the West Loop at 133N. Jefferson St.

Maria was always keenly interested in fashion and at age thirteen was creating and sewing her own designs and even sewed her own high school prom dress. Pinto worked in the family's Italian restaurant business until the age of 30 when she enrolled at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Pinto also studied at New York's Parson's School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Subsequent to this she worked with fashion icon Geoffrey Beene, in New York before branching off on her own.

Pinto's design and fashion accolades

Pinto's website states that, "She has received many prestigious design and fashion accolades throughout her career, including the opportunity on two occasions to design seductive costumes for the Joffrey Ballet's Recorde Per Due (2002) and Age of Innocence (2008); the Best of Fashion Award, Chicago Magazine (2000); and the Gold Coast Fashion Award, previously won by Anne Klein, Donna Karan and Bill Blass (1998). In 2009, Maria Pinto will be honored by the Anti-Defamation League as the recipient of their Women of Achievement Award, and the School of The Art Institute's Legend of Fashion Award." (As published on Mario Pinto's website)

Mario Pinto is yet another rising star in the american fashion design scene thanks to Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama with her unique accessories and individual exotic designs is fast becoming a conversation with style which starts "where did she get that"? - Because when Michelle Obama dresses that's what people are asking. Especially since her off the rack choices make it affordbale for the masses to follow her style of dress and keeps her in touch with society.

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