As New York Fashion Week winds down, all eyes are on Europe, and especially Paris. For eight of the 2015 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists, this means preparing for the eleventh season of the Americans in Paris showroom, which, for the first time, takes place at the beautiful Pavillion Etoile Oct.1-3.

TUMI is proud to be the lead underwriter for the initiative, which features designers Aurora James of Brother Vellies, Brad Schmidt and Raul Arevelo of Cadet, Chris Gelinas of CG, Chromat’s Becca McCharen, David Hart, Gypsy Sport’s Rio Uribe, Jonathan Simkhai, and Thaddeus O’ Neil.

“We’re looking forward to returning to Paris and being part of the eleventh season of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund’s Americans in Paris,” said Michael Petry, Global Creative Director of TUMI. “TUMI has had the pleasure of working alongside these incredible CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund designers in supporting their businesses and giving this talented group the international exposure that they all deserve.”

This season, TUMI tasked the eight participating designers with a unique design project ­– to customize a TUMI item specially curated by Michael Petry for their brand. Each designer received a different TUMI bag to reimagine in their own aesthetic without forsaking its functionality.

These takes on TUMI will be on display at Americans in Paris. The showroom will be celebrated with a cocktail event at The Ritz Paris co-hosted by Michael Petry.

“With the support of TUMI, Americans in Paris continues to bring top emerging design talent to an important market,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “This season, there is a special focus to increase the attendance of international buyers who are in Paris during fashion week.”

Americans in Paris will open at Pavillion Etoile, 12 Rue de Presbourg, Paris, 75016, from Saturday, October 1 to Monday, October 3, 11am-6pm.