And so the 16^th CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund begins! On Wednesday, the competition kicked into high gear bright and early at Milk Studios with some of the most promising names in American fashion on hand. For their first challenge, the 10 finalists presented key looks from their past collections on models while fielding questions from the Selection Committee, which includes Anna Wintour, Steven Kolb, Eva Chen, Diane von Furstenberg, and new additions Paloma Elsesser and Chioma Nnadi. What’s at stake? A top prize of $400,000 towards their business along with a year-long mentorship from a top industry professional. No pressure!

After the finalists successfully made it through their nerve-wrecking presentations, we caught up with each designer to learn more about the person behind the brand.

Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough, Abasi Rosborough

@abasirosborough

Hometown:

Abdul Abasi: Washington, D.C. Grew up Gainsborough, Maryland

Greg Rosborough: Iowa, grew up in Arizona

Based: New York

Zodiac Sign:

Abdul: Libra

Greg: Pisces

Favorite Food:

Abdul: Pizza

Greg: Spaghetti and Meatballs!

TV Obsession:

Abdul: Big Little Lies

Greg: Same. I’m also watching Chernobyl, and When They See Us. It’s devastating but fascinating – and should be a part of American education!

Brand Ethos:

Greg: Forward-thinking design. We mean that in all aspects – how we source the materials, how they a made, what they stand for, and how they are sold. Everything is skewed towards integrity and innovation.

Go-to Look:

Abdul: All black. I’ll usually wear a desert shirt with pants in all black.

Greg: We design these tailored jackets, which we say are the future of tailored jackets. I try to wear them as often as possible, although not so often in the summertime.

Must-Have Material:

Abdul: We love merino wool. It’s nature’s technical performance fabric. There’s wool for hot and cold weather. It can be felted, super draped, it takes color really beautifully.

Muses:

Abdul: Leonardo da Vinci.

Greg: I know everybody says this all the time –especially Kanye – but Steve Jobs. Also, Dieter Rams.

Career Goals:

Abdul: Just to be able to communicate to as many people as possible. We want as many people as possible people wearing our clothing. We want to be able to take care of our families for generations to come. And make a positive impact on society.

Greg: There’s a great philosophy by Ray and Charles Eames that says we want to get “the best to the greatest number of people for the least.” We believe our design is problem solving so we want to expand that idea in a bigger way.

Alejandra Alonso Rojas

@alejandraalonsorojas

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Based: New York

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Food: Croquettes.

TV Obsession: The Handmaid’s Tale and Killing Eve!

Go-to Look: I love denim bermudas with a silk blazer. I’ll pair it with either Superga sneakers or heels depending on the occasion. Makes it easy to get around with my baby or head to a meeting.

Must-Have Material: Yarns, silks, and suedes and leathers are the core materials I work with. I just treat them in different ways. Kneading is my favorite thing in the world!

Muses: Definitely my family. My grandma Carmen, my mother, and my great aunt…Just women who inspire me.

Career Goals: I think of some of my role models, like Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, Gabriela Hearst, or Diane von Furstenberg…women who have been able to handle and combine their personal life with their professional career. The goal for the company is to grow, and to become part of one of the luxury groups to really recreate the world, brick and mortar experience, and build a brand that will last for generations.

Christopher John Rogers

@christopherjohnrogers

Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Based: Brooklyn, New York.

Zodiac Sign: Libra

What’s the most Libra thing about you? My indecision. And I’m a people pleaser.

Favorite Color: Yves Klein Blue

Favorite Food: Burger.

TV Obsession: Stranger Things and makeup tutorials.

Go-to Look: A wide legged cropped Uniqlo pant and a button-down.

Material You Can’t Live Without?

Silk taffeta.

Who are your muses?

Amanda Murray.

What’s your ultimate career goal?

To make fashion fun again. It’s gotten so corporate, which it always has been, but I want people to laugh more and enjoy their time.

Danielle Hirsch, Danielle Frankel

@daniellefrankelstudio

Hometown: Los Angeles

Based: New York

Zodiac sign: Cancer

What makes you a Cancer? I’m definitely a very maternal mother.  It’s not my personality, but I am with my baby – he’s just everything!

Favorite Color: A greyish dove.

Favorite Food: French fries.

TV Obsession: The Americans.

LA versus New York: LA for sure!

Go-to Look: Jeans and a T-shirt!

Must-Have Material: My silk wool! It’s this two-faced fabric (silk on one-side, wool on the other). It’s produced in Italy and it’s really lightweight and amazing!

Muses: It’s funny – we would always say Zoë Kravitz when we were talking about the label, and then she just wore it to her wedding rehearsal!

Career Goals: I want to be mega! I want to be the next company in 20 years you’re going to know exactly what we make and recognize it on the street.

Hillary Taymour, Collina Strada

@collinastrada

Hometown: Los Angeles

Based: New York

Zodiac Sign: Leo, Capricorn rising, Scorpio moon.

What’s the most Leo thing about you?

I need attention! I need to have my dog with me at all times, and my sister around to tell me I did a good job today. I need those boosts!

Favorite Food: Hummus

Go-to Look: Print on print! Anything that doesn’t match.

Must-Have Material: Any deadstock fabrics.

Muses: Sasha Frolova, David Prost, and Synphanie Mojica. I also love Kelsey Lu – I’m dressing her for her tour.

Career Goals: To be the most sustainable brand I can be. I want to make a difference in sustainability in fashion on a global level.

Natalie Ratabesi, TRE by Natalie Ratabesi

@trebytre

Hometown: Born in London, raised in Rome.

Based: Los Angeles

Zodiac Sign: Virgo. I’m a true Virgo!

What’s the most Virgo thing about you?

I’m very organized. We plan everything. I can break the rules as long as I know that I have a plan after. It helps me in my job because I have two jobs and run my own label. I think it’s what keeps me alive. My biggest talent is prioritizing.

Favorite Color: Army Green

Favorite Food: It used to be Japanese, but for the last two months, I’ve been obsessed with Mexican food. As many tacos as I can get!

TV Obsession: I’m a late bloomer – I just found out about Veep! We live in a world politically where you have to be so careful about what you say, and there’s something about it that’s really refreshing about it.

Go-to Look: A jumpsuit or denim – but always with four-inch heels!

Must-Have Material: I often gravitate towards georgette. For daywear, I would say cotton or cotton-wool. And denim obviously!

Muses: Cate Blanchett

Career Goals: It sounds very arrogant, but my dream is that this line becomes the next Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein. It’s not about the outfit itself, it’s about the world you live in.

Raffaella Hanley of Lou Dallas

@lou_dallas

Hometown: New York

Based: New York

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

What’s the most Libra thing about you? I can never make up my mind. It’s horrible.

Favorite Color: Purple

TV Obsession: The new Twin Peaks!

Go-to Look: I somehow always end up wearing these Dalmatian print leggings I made a long time ago.

Must-Have Material: Silk taffeta.

Muses: I have a tendency to think of movie characters. I love Laura Dern in Wild in Heart and I love Milla Jovovich in Fifth Element.

Career Goals: Dominate the world! I just want to see my product out in the world more.

Reese Cooper

@reesecooper

Hometown: Atlanta. I moved to London when I was 10.

Based: Los Angeles

Favorite Color: Forest green

TV Obsession: Billions, Yellowstone, and Documentary Now.

Go-to Look: Either jeans or baggy Carhartt pants with a T-shirt.

Must-Have Material: I really love using a brushed cotton canvas or softer workwear fabrics.

Muses: Not any individuals. When I design, I champion the people who use the clothes for function. The inspiration in terms of people comes from these small pockets of communities that actually live in this stuff day-to-day, and examining how they wear it and interact with their landscape.

Brand Ethos: American workwear driven, but with a modern twist. Anyone can wear it. There are 16- year olds in SoHo is wearing the same jacket as Idris Elba. I gave a jacket to one of my friend’s dad who has a ranch in Vermont and hunts, and he wears the same jacket I do in the factory. It’s pretty universal.

Career Goals: My main goal is to be able to realize and fully execute ideas how I want to on a larger scale and faster. I want to have access to collaborators or experts in their field, whatever they may be.

Siying Qu and Haoran Li, Private Policy

@privatepolicyny

Native country: China

Based: New York

Zodiac Sign:

Siying Qu: Aquarius

Haoran Li: Leo

Favorite Food:

Siying: Braised pork

Haoran: Poke bowl

TV Obsession:

Siying: Pose

Haoran: I watch more movies than TV shows. I just watched the The Farewell with Awkwafina!

Go-to Look:

Siying: We just wear our brand a lot. My style depends on the day!

Muses:

Siying: Our brand focuses on social and political topics, so we look up to people in different fields that stand up for their rights. I’m obsessed with Megan Rapinoe, the leader for the US soccer team. I love her personality and style!

Haoran: Eva Chen, who we just met this morning, is such an independent lady and very caring about the community. We would love to dress her!

Career Goals:  

Siying: We really want to make our brand a lifestyle brand, which embodies pursuing freedom, New York style, and youth culture.

Victor Barragán of Barragán

@barragannnn

Hometown: Mexico City

Based: New York

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Favorite Color: Mustard

Favorite Food: Anything my mom makes!

TV Obsession: Pose and Euphoria.

Go-to Look: Basketball shorts and a T-shirt. If I’m at my house, I’m just trying to be comfy!

Brand Ethos: We are a very sex-positive brand. We always like to have the models feel really comfortable with themselves and their body. We like to work with different types of models, and show that beauty comes in different shapes and sizes.

Must-Have Material: I use a lot of velvet, and a lot of silk.

Muses: My friends! I use them a lot as a reference, and they always like extreme looks.

Career Goals: I want Barragán to get bigger. I want to expand the brand beyond just clothing because I can feel restricted. We are planning to do furniture!