CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Announces Nominees

Every year the CFDA and Vogue partner to award promising emerging talent the opportunity to develop their brands and collections. The winner, will receive $200,000 and a mentorship by industry leaders, and two runners-up will receive $50,000. These 10 finalists have just been announced and the nominees are: womenswear designers Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, Gregory Parkinson, and Christian Cota; menswear designers Billy Reid, Robert Geller, Oliver Helden and Paul Marlow of Loden Dager; jewelry designers Eddie Borgo and Pamela Love of Pamela Love Jewelry; and eyewear designer Moss Lipow.

The winner and runners-up will be announced in November. For the past few years, the winner and runners-up have gained mainstream exposure by collaborating with the Gap to create limited-edition Gap Design Edition collections. Past winners of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund include Past winners include Sophia Theallet, Alexander Wang, and Proenza Schouler.

Steven Kolb, Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, said, ‘this year’s 10 finalists show a depth of creativity and talent that is inspiring to the industry as a whole. The designers’ compelling portfolios clearly demonstrate that the future of American fashion is expansive and bright.’ In addition to reviewing their portfolios, the Fund’s Selection Committee will also review the finalists design project for Anne Taylor and their execution at a fashion show underwritten by Frédéric Fekkai at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles in October.

‘Fashion is probably the only industry in the world where its fledgling talents are expected to be as creatively adept at running a business as they are at design,” said Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor in chief. “Many, clearly, are not, and it’s through the support of the fund that these promising designers will be able to build a future for themselves—and for American fashion.’

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