In May, we welcomed a new group of CFDA {Fashion Incubator} designers: Alexandra Alvarez of Alix, Aurora James of Brother Vellies, Charles Youssef, Daniel DuGoff of DUGOFF, Haerfest’s Tim and Dan Joo, Jason and Julie Alkire of Haus Alkire, Ji Oh, K/LLER Collection’s Katie deGuzman and Michael Miller, Thaddeus O’Neil, and Molly Yestandt of Yestadt Millinery.

They wasted no time creating a community for themselves at 209 West 38th Street and absorbing the advice of their mentors and CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg.

“When you’re the beginner of a business, it’s important to stand for something,” von Furstenberg told them. “And stick, as much as possible, to what you stand for, because that will become your identity.”

PHOTOS BY MATTEO PRANDONI/BFA.COM