Over the past 20 years, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund not only cultivated the next generation of American fashion talent. It also threw some fabulous awards dinners. Who can forget that chilly night, in 2010, when Karl Lagerfeld lost his diamond pin, prompting several fashion types to climb under the table to search for it? Or the dynamite remarks Tom Ford gave, providing the young designers in the room with ample anecdotes and advice as they map out their futures? Could these moments ever be topped?
Cue Wednesday night’s 20th Anniversary and 2024 Winner celebration presented by Gap Inc. The Monkey Bar was packed with fashion stars and favorites, including hosts Anna Wintour, Steven Kolb, and Zac Posen, who were joined by Jean Paul Gaultier, Victoria and David Beckham, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Richard Dickson, Honey Dijon, Pat McGrath, Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, Jenna Lyons, Mona Patel, Jordan Roth, and Winnie Harlow – as well as the 2024 winners, L’Enchanteur’s Dynasty and Soull Ogun, and runners-up Jackson Wiederhoeft of Wiederhoeft and Spencer Phipps of Phipps.
“When we launched this program, I don’t think we knew the impact it would have on the American and global fashion landscape,” Kolb said. “It’s the blueprint for other fashion council who created similar programs.”
Aurora James, Melitta Baumeister, Kim Shui, Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Rachel Scott, Henry Zankov, Willy Chavarria, Raul Lopez, Christopher John Rogers, Joseph Altuzarra, Hillary Taymour, Mike Eckhaus, Tanner Ritchi and Fletcher Kasell were among the past finalists in the room.
“The Fashion Fund is like a family,” Kolb noted. The sentiment was indeed very real on this night.
Posen recalled how he wasn’t sure if he could produce his third collection and put on a show. With his mother Susan Posen, he met with Wintour for guidance.
“We needed to figure out how to get to next step,” he said, recalling how how he had the support of other designers, including Tom Ford, throughout his career.
“I always knew,” Posen said, “that at some point in my life and career, that if there was ever an opportunity, I would give back to the next generation of designers.”
With that in mind, he announced the 20th Anniversary Mentorship Award Presented by Gap Inc. which went to Grace Ling.
Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas announced the winners with poignant anecdote.
“You probably know me from winning three gold medals in Paris this summer,” she said. “My first big win, though, happened at the NCAA Championships when I was in junior college.”
In other words, this is just the beginning for all 10 finalists.
Congrats to all!
