“I apologize to all the basketball fans who are here,” cracked Thom Browne, “but I do want to let you know that LeBron and Jalen personally told me that they wished they were here.”
The CFDA Chairman was referring to last night’s NBA season opener between the Knicks and Philadelphia76ers, but there was no need to apologize. It’s safe to suggest that guests at Tuesday’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund dinner hosted by Browne, Tory Burch, Chloe Malle, and Anna Wintour at the Crane Club had an even better time than those at Madison Square Garden.
Past Fashion Fund Finalists – Wes Gordon, Aurora James, Kim Shui, Christopher John Rogers, Tanner Richie, Ashlynn Park, Connor McKnight, Julian Louie, Dynasty and Soull Ogun, Kate Barton, Henry Zankov, Ashley Moubayed, and Stephanie Suberville among them – joined Allison Sarofim, Bethann Hardison, Dr. Macrene Alexiades, Christian Cowan, Tara Rudes Dann, Chioma Nnadi, Yao King, Marnie Herald, Helen Hong, and many more to celebrate this year’s ten designers.
“We’re all here tonight to recognize something that is at the core of American design, and that is creativity,” Browne, who was a 2005 Fashion Fund Finalist, said. “I have always believed that the most powerful thing a designer can have is a point of view.
“Nothing else is more important than being true to your vision, and what you want the world to see,” he added.
Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content at American Vogue, lauded this crop of talent. “Getting to know our finalists has been such a joy for me,” she said. “It’s my first year as a judge, and the joy of going to studio visits, especially seeing the different snacks reflecting everyone’s personal passions, like Persian cookies or handmade matcha, has been so elucidating, and I love getting to know everyone and getting to know what really fuels them and drives them.”
“I spent much of my career behind the scenes from late night fittings to backstage and I know how much goes into bringing a designer’s vision to life,” model Mona Tougaard said, before announcing runners-up Aisling Camps and Emily Dawn Long and winner Zane Li.
The celebration continued with the “Unofficial but kind of Official” Class of 2026 Closing Celebration at Jean’s on Lafayette, where martinis were flowing and chocolate chip cookies were served. It was a fittingly sweet finale to a night celebrating fashion’s next generation.
