Target renewed its support as Underwriter of the {Fashion Incubator} program for 2016-2018. W Hotels is a Partner of the program. Additional support is provided by M·A·C Cosmetics and Newmark Holdings.
Located at 209 West 38th Street in New York City’s Garment District, the CFDA {Fashion Incubator} is a business development program for emerging American designers. The {Fashion Incubator} provides a creative professional environment to foster promising fashion talent and help selected designers grow and sustain their businesses. By offering low-cost design studio space, business mentoring, educational seminars, and networking opportunities, the program provides opportunities for participants to reach their full potential and become an integral part of the New York Fashion community.
The designers were chosen by members of a Selection Committee comprised of fashion industry experts, including retailers, editors, and business leaders. Selection Committee members include Steven Alan; Claire Distenfeld, Fivestory; Gigi Guerra, Target; Doug Hand, Hand, Baldachin & Amburgey, LLP; Kevin Harter, Bloomingdale’s; Noria Morales, Target; Tomoko Ogura, Barneys New York; Roopal Patel, Saks Fifth Avenue; Nicole Phelps, Vogue Runway; Shan Reddy, Redline Consulting; Lisa Smilor, CFDA; Eugene Tong, Independent Fashion Consultant, and Gary Wassner, Hilldun Corporation.
Prior to moving into their studio in May 2016, the designers will have completed an eight month MBA program which CFDA developed in partnership with New York University’s Stern School of Business. Over the course of two years, the CFDA will then work closely with the designers on all aspects of business development – – including costing and production, branding and marketing, finance and legal, eCommerce development and retail strategy. The program includes a highly customized Business Mentorship program, with over 50 of the industry’s leaders participating as Mentors including: Kyle Andrew, Jeffry Aronsson, Renee Barletta, Ari Bloom, Malcolm Carfrae, Shira Carmi, Marshall Cheek, Trish Donnelly, Mark Engebretson, Joseph Ferrara, Ramya Giangola, Esteban Gomez, Ulrich Grimm, Felita Harris, Jayne Harkness, Miki Higasa, Eric Jennings, Susan Joy, Tracy Kennard, Cindy Krupp, James Kuerschner, Kit Li-Perry, Jennie McCormick, Lisa Metcalfe, Matt Nastos, Christine Park, Nancy Pelton, Andy Person, David Rees, Karen Robinovitz, Jan-Henrik Schlottmann, Matthew Singer, Shelly Socol, Susan Sokol, Beryl Solomon, April Uchitel and Talun Zeitoun.
