Membership within the CFDA is extended to designers who demonstrate exemplary design creativity and execution and are recognized for their unique brand signature and positive impact. To qualify for CFDA membership consideration, a designer must be a U.S. citizen (or an international designer whose business is legally headquartered in the U.S.) who is producing a noteworthy collection of apparel, jewelry, accessories or textiles for a minimum of no less than five years, and who has garnered significant editorial and retail support and/or DTC sales. To be admitted as a Member of the organization, candidates are first ratified by the CFDA Board of Directors then elected by the CFDA membership.

Committed to supporting American fashion designers of tomorrow, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has awarded approximately $4 million and 376 scholarships from 1996 to 2024.

Annually, the CFDA discovers exemplary student talent. Thanks to the generosity of the partners and donors, the CFDA Scholarship Fund continues to invest in the future of American fashion. Notable past recipients include Jacques Agbobly of AGBOBLY (2019), Peter Do (2013), Michelle Ochs of Et Ochs & Hervé Léger (2006), Chris Benz (2003), Jack McCollough of LOEWE (2001), and Peter Som (1996).

Professional Development provides high-value thought leadership engagements alongside dynamic digital content via Industry Insights.

Programming is designed to support American designers and professionals’ stability, success, and growth via virtual conversations, digital resource material, workshops, business mentorship, roundtable discussions, and networking events.

For over a decade, notable designers, innovators, experts, and organizations in the fashion industry have joined the CFDA to contribute to our thought leadership programming covering topics from marketing, retail, tech and innovation, legal, finance, sustainability, supply chain, and DEI.

The CFDA has championed sustainability as a core program pillar for over a decade. The organization believes ingenuity, imagination, and creative capital are vital to transforming fashion and shifting towards a climate-safe, nature-safe, and socially positive sector.

The CFDA’s Sustainability Initiatives provide a comprehensive, integrated program suite guided by a theory of change that centers on education, knowledge sharing, open-access resources, and designer support through grants, awards, and tailored mentorship.

The CFDA’s supply chain work includes programs and initiatives to help strengthen the foundational level of a designer’s business, from sourcing and manufacturing to shipping and logistics. Building educational opportunities and providing tangible relationships between designers and supply chain resources and experts are both at the core of all the CFDA’s supply chain related engagements. These efforts aim to strengthen local production, expand global networks for designers, and promote responsible practices across the industry.

The IMPACT program was created to advance the economic mobility and social inclusion of underrepresented creatives in the American fashion industry by expanding access, supporting career development, and fostering community.

As a multi-pronged initiative, IMPACT drives equity through strategic awards, education, and cultural dialogue—investing in talent and shaping a more inclusive industry.

The CFDA Fashion Awards are an annual event honoring the most influential and innovative figures in the American fashion industry. The evening celebrates creativity and achievement across design categories, including womenswear, menswear, accessory, and emerging talent.

The Awards serve as the organization’s most significant fundraising initiative for the CFDA Foundation, the separate not-for-profit entity established to support charitable causes and industry-related activities.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established after 9/11 to help emerging designers and cultivate the next generation of American fashion talent. Since its inception, 200 designers have received mentoring and a total of more than $8 million. Of the designers who have gone through the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, 42 percent of those brands are fully or partially women owned, and 40 percent are fully or partially minority owned.

Designers eligible to apply must be in business for a minimum of 2 years. Their primary business must be based in the United States, should have no more than thirty full-time employees, and not exceed a total revenue of 10 million dollars per year.

The Friends of the CFDA is a select group of individuals and companies with a demonstrated interest in the fashion industry and a desire to support the philanthropic mission of the CFDA. Invited members serve as ambassadors of CFDA’s work and have the opportunity to build relationships with emerging and established designers, gain exclusive access to CFDA and partner events, and engage with leaders in the fashion industry.

Support from Friends of the CFDA helps fund the CFDA Foundation’s work.

New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held each February and September, represents the intersection of talent discovery, creative diversity, and business development.

Since acquiring the Fashion Calendar — the digital resource for events, shows, and fashion week highlights — in 2014, the CFDA has served as the organizer of the Official New York Fashion Week Schedule. As such, the organization sets the official dates and organizes the official NYFW schedule for womenswear, menswear, and bridal collections.

The CFDA’s Business Development and Partnerships is responsible for driving the organization’s revenue strategy by securing and managing key sponsorships and partnerships. It is central to funding CFDA initiatives, including Membership, the CFDA Fashion Awards, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, New York Fashion Week, sustainability efforts, and scholarship programs. Its primary role is to generate financial support through various partnership models that align with the CFDA’s mission and priorities.

By emphasizing both traditional sponsorship avenues—such as national and state grants, corporate philanthropy, and educational programs—it supports the organization’s growth while fostering sustainability in CFDA’s initiatives.

The CFDA Foundation is a separate not-for-profit organization, which was created to raise funds for charity and industry activities. Through innovative partnerships with brands, retailers, and CFDA designers, the Foundation is able to leverage fashion and effectively generate awareness and funds for these charitable causes.