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Inside the CFDA and Genesis House 3.0 AAPI Design + Innovation Grant Cocktail Reception

February 7, 2026

Aldo Araujo

Set against the refined, culture-forward backdrop of Genesis House, the fashion community gathered in celebration hiring the finalists of the third annual CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant, bringing together designers, industry leaders, and friends to toast creativity, community, and contemporary Asian design.

Finalists Allina Liu, Kim Shui, and Terrence Zhou of Bad Binch TongTong unveiled their completed collections, each offering a distinct point of view rooted in personal heritage and forward-thinking design. Guests moved through the space to experience the collections up close, while the designers shared insights into their creative processes and cultural narratives.

During the celebration, Zhou was named the recipient of the 2026 CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant. The announcement capped a night that was as much about collective achievement as it was about individual recognition—underscoring the program’s mission to elevate AAPI voices through mentorship, resources, and visibility.

All three finalists were celebrated for their strong creative identities and thoughtful approaches to design, setting an inspiring tone ahead of New York Fashion Week.

The collections will remain on view at Genesis House through February 22, inviting the public to experience the vision and innovation of this next generation of designers.

Special thanks to Ryan Kunchadechchirawat of Na Rath Atelier for the florals.

Steven Kolb, Terrence Zhou, Joe McHugh

Azeeza Khan

Kim Shui

Hannah Locsin

Allina Liu

Esteban Gomez, Wen Zhou, Sandra Park

Alex Justimbaste, Apple Viñas

Jappy Lisan

Darya Hope

John Luigi Caña, Nico Sese, Kristopher Fraser, Veejay Floresca

Ebony Wiggins, Kevin Bass, Molly Healy, Elizabeth Ritger, Molly Finnan

Ryan Kunchadechchirawat, Terrence Zhou

Rob Li

Veejay Floresca, Clara Son, Rafe Totengco, Rowell Conception

Wayne Tawai

Claire Casto, Marc Karimzadeh, Lauren Levison

Simeong Yu, Jordan Wang

Sebastian Cortez, Victoria Mendez, Joseph Maglieri

Gabriella Firek

Bach Mai

Anna Vestal, Christian Vestal, Aldo Araujo

Steven Kolb, Allina Liu, Kim Shui, Terrence Zhou, Joe McHugh

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