Beginning her expansive fashion career in 1972, Jermikko designed for several companies before starting her own
business. Jermikko started her business in a studio apartment
in 1979 with $50.00, two tree trunks for chairs, a home sewing machine, a metal card table, three yards of fabric and a 6 pound Aussie dog, Lonesome; his job was to act as the fabric weight.
This makes Jermikko not only the first African American owned design and clothing integrated vertical manufacturer but the
longest standing as well.

Jermikko was educated at the most prestigious Fine Arts
College in the nation: The School of The Art Institute, as well
as the University of Chicago (which she attended concurrently).
She received degrees in Fashion, Textile Design and Psychology. As a student in college, Jermikko was the recipient of numerous industry awards and scholarships; included on this list are the following awards: the “Stanley Korshak Award”, “the Oscar Aronson” award, and the Public School Art Society Award. The Stanley Korshak award and apprenticeship allowed Jermikko to design garments for many of Chicago’s social elite such as Mrs. Joan Kroc (wife of McDonald’s founding father Ray Kroc), Mrs. McCormick (of the McCormick Place fame) and many more stars and celebrities.

Jermikko serves as Executive Director of Design & CEO of the Jermikko label, is a mentor to aspiring young designers, and visiting professor in fashion design for the School of the Art
Institute of Chicago. She is a highly visible, active participant in Chicago’s fashion industry and a true champion for designing
and manufacturing in Chicago.