CHICAGO (AP) — after making her mark on fashion by making clothing for first lady Michelle Obama and other celebrities, designer Maria Pinto says she’s closing her Chicago boutique because of the poor economy.

Signs situated this week in the window of Pinto’s store read “Closeout” and “Final Sale” as the designer hosts a liquidation sale through Saturday. Pinto focused the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and launched her own label in 1991. She has said she builds her clothes for real women, not trends.

Pinto says her time-off plans contain traveling, painting and drawing. And she says she desires to study the fashion industry to see where I want to fit myself into it.

Michelle Obama wore Pinto’s clothes on the campaign trace and then at the White House.