Ellen Ma, the female Streetwear Art Director of Chicago.
Lollapalooza has always been the heartbeat of Chicago. When you grow up in this city, it’s the moment you dream about, the place where music, culture, and creativity collide. So when Lollapalooza and the Chicago Transit Authority asked me to bring a collaboration to life, it felt like everything had come full circle. This project united two Chicago icons, Lollapalooza and the CTA, and I had the privilege of leading the creative from concept to execution. I personally designed every piece of merch in the capsule, directed all of the social content and commercial spots, and worked hand-in-hand with Lollapalooza’s agency, C3 Presents, and the CTA team to make sure the vision came to life authentically and loudly Chicago. To capture the campaign the right way, I rented out an entire train and transformed it into our set, turning a familiar part of daily city life into a moving backdrop for festival energy, streetwear attitude, and hometown pride. The result was a limited-edition three-piece capsule that fused transit culture with festival style, a tribute to the city that raised me and the system that moves it:
City Tee — inspired by the CTA map and Chicago’s unmistakable skyline
Find Your Way Back Home Long-Sleeve — honoring the late-night post-festival ride that every Chicago kid knows
Rail Line Hat — featuring bold, classic CTA-inspired typography
This collaboration wasn’t just merch, it was a love letter to Chicago, created by someone who grew up riding these trains and dreaming big.
