About

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue magazine have created an endowment to support the next generation of American fashion designers. With monies raised, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has been established, the stated purpose of which is to generate sufficient income each year to fund significant financial awards to one or more designers and provide business mentoring. Award recipients are selected by a Committee of industry experts, based on the exceptional talent they have already demonstrated in fashion design and their capacity for future distinction in the fashion industry.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Selection Committee annually selects three emerging fashion designers, who receive:

  1. (1) business mentoring from an established team of fashion industry professionals, in areas such as business planning, marketing, sourcing, production, exporting, etc. and
  2. (2) to encourage and enable the recipients to pursue his/her own independent design plan (one winner at $300,000 and two runners-up at $100,000 each).

2012 Winner

2012 Runners-Up

2012 Finalists

Eligibility

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

  • A designer of demonstrable talent- i.e. have garnered substantial and recent editorial coverage, and have support (orders) from top retailers;
  • Primary design business based in the United States;
  • A minimum of two years in business;
  • Have professional staff, paid or volunteer, which can devote the time and effort required to accomplish the stated aims of an applicant’s design career plans;
  • Request and submit a Preliminary Application, accompanied by a 350-word biographical statement, which should include a summary of the applicant’s design career, by Wednesday May 8, 2013.

Application Process

Phase 1

Fashion designers who contact the CFDA to request application materials for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund are sent a preliminary application, which requires the applicant to submit a 350-word biographical statement and affirm his/her eligibility. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Selection Committee reviews all preliminary applications submitted by eligible candidates, and narrows the group to no more than one hundred (100) candidates, each of whom are invited to submit a formal application (Phase 2). Preliminary applicants who are not invited to continue to Phase 2 are notified, in writing, of the Selection Committee's decision.

Phase 2

Each of the invited candidates are asked to provide specific information which outlines:

  • his/her short-term and long-term business goals and objectives;
  • how the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund's financial award and business mentoring would encourage and enable the recipient to pursue his/her design career plans;
  • his/her existing business, including:
  • current organizational structure (employees/functions filled)
  • consultants, outside advisors and professional firms that the candidate works with
  • his/her current brand positioning, and where the candidate envisions his/her brand in the future
  • Candidates are asked to submit a portfolio presentation containing work from their Spring and Fall collections, which may include sketches, photos, editorial photos, ads and/or videos.
  • Candidates are asked to submit 3-5 references (editors, retailers and one other fashion industry professional with whom they have a close, working relationship) that the Selection Committee can contact for their comments and opinions.

Phase 3

The ten (10) Finalists are interviewed by and make a presentation of five (5) looks from past, present, and upcoming collections to the Selection Committee. The interview includes an assessment of the business mentoring needs of each of the candidates.

Phase 4

The Selection Committee visits the design studios and meets with each of the ten (10) Finalists.

Phase 5

The Selection Committee determines one (1) award recipient (and possible runner/s-up) in October/November. Upon completion of the award term, recipient(s) are asked to present a formal, final evaluation of the program.

Partners & Underwriters

Partner

J.Crew

Underwriters

  • American Express
  • Appleman Foundation
  • Carolina Herrera, Ltd.
  • Coach Foundation
  • kate spade new york
  • Nordstrom
  • Ralph Bartel Foundation
  • The Limited
  • THECORNER.COM-Yoox Group
  • Theory
  • Tiffany & Co
  • Tommy Hilfiger
  • Vogue