Designers from different decades braved Thursday night’s sub-freezing temperature to give the newest members of the CFDA a warm welcome.
Over cocktails and amidst camaraderie, the gathering at Nine Orchard was as much a mixer as it was a catch-up for many guests. This year’s new CFDA inductees – Melitta Baumeister, Aisling Camps, Daniella Kallmeyer, Fletcher Kasell and Tanner Richie, Ashlynn Park, Stephanie Suberville, Kim Shui, Andre Walker and Jackson Wiederhoeft – made the rounds in the chic Neo-Renaissance hotel. Like New York City’s garment center, the Lower East Side location has roots that were planted more than a century ago.
Many of the new CFDA members were recognizable by the designs that they were wearing. Designer Thom Browne, CFDA CEO and President Steven Kolb and Executive Vice President Lisa Smilor led the festivities. They had plenty of support from guests like Mimi So, Maria Cornejo, Nicole Miller, Tremaine Emory, Stan Herman, Batsheva Hay, Marcia Patmos, Edvin Thompson, Bibhu Mohapatra, John Bartlett, Jeffrey Banks, Cynthia Rowley, Bethann Hardison and Abrima Erwiah.
Inevitably, some chatted about the acceleration of AI, the precarious state of retail, tariffs, and inflation. But all in all, guests spoke about what’s ahead.
Forty-five years into his career, Walker described his membership as his being “always ready to learn.”
Park, the 2025 winner of both the CFDA’s “Emerging Designer of the Year” award and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, offered another view. “It’s really about joining a community that we support and being supported,” she said.
After the new members introduced themselves to the crowd, Browne recalled his own new members’ event 20 years ago that was held at Arnold Scaasi’s One Beekman Place address. The CFDA Board Chairman said, “All I remember is being proud to be a member of the CFDA and an American designer, and being part of this world, which has seen so many greats and so many voices that have really paved the way for all of us today.
“Whatever level of success that each of you have should really be predicated upon your doing really great work that you love more than anybody else,” he added. “Whether or not you all become rich or famous, the thing that I want you to never forget is the work comes first.”
Kolb asked guests to remember when they learned that they were accepted to the CFDA. “There is a certain amount of pride that you have as a CFDA member,” he said. “The recognition that you’re getting from your peers in the industry is because you have the talent that deserves that recognition.”
Suberville, whose label Heirlome supports artisans in her homeland of Mexico, said CFDA membership is “a milestone” for a designer. “As someone who wasn’t American and has become an American [citizen], it’s made me realize, ‘Oh, I am an American designer,'” she said. “And it gives you access to other people, because you feel part of this world that you have embraced.”
With a 14-year-old business and two New York stores, Kallmeyer said, “It’s cool to be joining now as opposed to 10 years ago when I first applied. We were so young and green then. It’s so meaningful now.”
Richie, who designs the Tanner Fletcher label with Kassell, said, “We’re very excited. We’re not designer-trained. We never planned on doing fashion so it’s kind of funny to be here five years later.”
The pair had another reason to celebrate with their wedding date set for December.
