FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR CFDA/VOGUE FASHION FUND

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue announced the ten finalists for this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, with the winner to be announced on November 18th. The fund was established in the aftermath of 9/11 to support emerging designers and nurture future generations of American fashion talent. Since that time, over 200 designers have received more than $8 million in mentorship through the program.

This year’s finalists were announced as follows Ashlynn Park, Ashlyn, Julian Louie, Aubero, Bach Mai, Bach Mai, Bernard James, Bernard James, Ashley Moubayed, Don’t Let Disco, Gabe Gordon and Timothy Gibbons, Gabe Gordon, Stephanie Suberville, Heirlome, Jamie Okuma, Jamie Okuma, Meruert Planul-Tolegen, Meruert Tolegen, and Peter Do, Peter Do.

This year’s award winner will receive a $300,000 cash prize, and the two runners-up will each be awarded $100,000. The cash prize will be accompanied by hands-on mentorship. “Now entering its third decade, we see just how much the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has transformed American fashion into a diverse and inclusive industry, and this year’s designers underscore the point,” said CFDA CEO Steven Kolb via Vogue. “We look forward to seeing how the finalists will make their mark on American fashion.”

The competition, which has a strong track record for promoting diversity (42% of past winners are fully or partially woman-owned, and 40% are fully or partially minority-owned,) will be judged by an all-star panel of judges including Anna Wintour, Mark Holgate, Nicole Phelps, Eva Chen, Aurora James, Paloma Elsesser, Rickie De Sole, Saks’ Roopal Patel, Thom Browne, and Zac Posen.