The 2022 CFDA Fashion Awards in Partnership with Amazon Fashion honor top fashion talent, from legendary designers who have shaped the industry to new faces making an impact. This year’s nominees for American Emerging Designer of the Year are particularly compelling. Ranging from a variety of different disciplines, each is making their own mark in a promising new way.

We stopped by each of the designer’s studios to learn more about them. Take a look!

BACH MAI

What was your reaction to receiving a CFDA Award nomination?

I literally shrieked out loud. I happened to be on the phone with my publicist Patrick McGregor when I opened the e-mail, and I exclaimed very loudly right into the phone, something between a gasp and a scream. My entire team just looked at me confusedly and Patrick thought something terrible had happened! I would say “flabbergasted” is the appropriate descriptor for my mindset at that moment. I had to reread the e-mail a few times to make sure I wasn’t mistaken, and there were definitely some tears involved.

What inspires you?

I find inspiration everywhere and anywhere, and I just try to keep my eyes open and stay sensitive to the world around me. But no matter what inspires me in the moment, my thought process is always rooted in my creative universe, the myriad of sources that perennially drive my creativity. This includes everything from Cy Twombly to mid-century haute couture, from the Rococo to an imagined fantasy of the courtesan.

What is one career milestone you hope to accomplish?

I am still so in awe of the level of craftsmanship and creativity I experienced when working in haute couture in Paris. I would love to one day be able to create clothing at that same level here in the U.S. and to hopefully be invited to officially show haute couture as an American designer.

Carly Mark, Puppets and Puppets

What was your reaction to receiving a CFDA Award nomination?

Shock and gratefulness. I’m really touched that people are excited about what I do, it means a lot to me.

What inspires you?

Film and my friends.

What is one career milestone you hope to accomplish?

Designing for a heritage house.

Lauren Harwell Godfrey, Harwell Godfrey

What was your reaction to receiving a CFDA Award nomination?

Surprised, excited and a little overwhelmed! As a fine jewelry designer, this nomination was unexpected but thrilling in all the best ways. To be recognized in a broader “designer” category — not specifically “accessories” — is incredibly validating, especially coming from my peers.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the design language of the African Diaspora – especially textiles. I love the patterns, colors, and geometry.

What is one career milestone you hope to accomplish?

I hope to hit the milestone of donating $1,000,000 to causes close to my heart from my Charity Heart Collection. So far, I have donated over $260,000 combined to World Central Kitchen, NAACP, the Human Rights Campaign, Every Mother Counts, Futures Without Violence and Everytown For Gun Safety. I believe this goal is within reach!

Elena Velez

What was your reaction to receiving a CFDA Award nomination?

Steven was the first person to break the news to me while we were seated next to each other at a show. I keep such a tight circle and don’t spend much time out and about so my world is pretty small – it’s so uncanny to hear that the work is starting to vibrate outside of our tiny operation.

What inspires you?

These days I’m most inspired by noncompliant women whose values and desires don’t map cleanly onto our matrix. Chaos agents.

What is one career milestone you hope to accomplish?

A career milestone I’m desperate to accomplish is building out the team and starting to be able to delegate a bit more. This hustle is all consuming and lonely. Big goals though are the creation of my circular and vertical factory in Milwaukee.

KidSuper