fellow designers…

the olympic hymn starts with a line…

emblaze our hearts with the fires of hope…

and now more than ever we must bring that line to life…

showing in new york is one of the most special feelings in the world…

nowhere else do you feel the excitement of the city like in new york…

and nowhere else do you experience such diversity in talent…

through the presentations and runways we bring to life…

to the worlds that we designers immerse our guests in…

telling stories that nobody else can dream of…

that are so uniquely ours…

it’s so important that we continue to show the world this…

to strive to have the work be what people see…

and in turn make the world tell our stories…

to make people see ideas through new eyes…

and leave them questioning what they thought they knew…

but we must always remember to be true to ourselves…

because that’s what makes new york… and america… so special…

approach this week in your own way…

and challenge yourself to push the limit…

with humility… and pride…

set a pr…

go the distance…

cross the finish line…

as a team… and on your own…

being a member of the cfda means being a part of the greatest group of creatives…

artists that are the best at what they do…

showcasing the immense talent america has to offer…

florence griffith joyner once said…

when anyone tells me i can’t do anything… i’m just not listening any more…

success is no accident… it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing…

when we love what we do so much… that we can’t imagine doing anything else…

we all become champions… and all become winners…

it’s the year of the olympics…

so, let’s go for the gold…

all my very best…

thom