Following the final-phase selection for the 2018-2019 Elaine Gold Launch Pad, the CFDA and Accessories Council are excited to unveil the five designers selected for the program’s second edition: Angela Luna of Adiff; Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece of Ashya; Leila Du Mond of Cyril Studio; Morganne Leigh of Tyche + Iset Eyewear; and Leonid Batekhin of Occhii.
The Selection Committee selected 11 finalists from more than 80 applications. Each finalist was invited to the CFDA to present a live 10-minute design pitch.
Celebrating the second year of partnership between the CFDA and the Accessories Council, the unique creative entrepreneurship program focuses on business innovation and helping early emerging designers (operating from 0-3 years) launch their careers in apparel, accessories, jewelry or textiles/knitwear.
In addition to Accessories Council’s Frank Zambrelli, Karen Giberson, and Leila Larijani and CFDA’s Steven Kolb and Sara Kozlowski, the Selection Committee featured Chromat’s Becca McCharen-Tran, Colette Malouf, Danilo Venturi of Polimoda, Assembly NY’s Greg Armas, Keanan Duffty, Megan Salt, Sarah Blair of Barneys New York, and Tidal’s Thomas Gibb.
The five designers will take part in a 23-week virtual residency starting in September, which will combine design and business mentorship, education. This year, an additional $25,000 will be awarded through the support of MZ Wallace for a total of $200,000 in micro-funding to support idea activation.
Elaine Gold Fellows will also receive membership access to Camp David, the co-creative working space in Brooklyn’s Industry City. The program encourages participants to embed sustainability, technology, and innovation within their ethos, and challenges them to explore new business models and create value through new ways of designing, making, producing, selling, and storytelling.
To learn more about the program and each of the five designers click HERE
