After a year on hold, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has chosen its next class of emerging talent. On Tuesday, a selection committee — including Anna Wintour, Tom Ford, Aurora James of Brother Vellies, Chioma Nnadi, Mark Holgate, Eva Chen, Paloma Elsesser, Roopal Patel, Sam Lobban, and Steven Kolb — announced the ten finalists.
This year, however, there are some differences. The application was opened up to emerging designers as usual, but also to past finalists and recipients of funding from A Common Thread, which provided financial support to American fashion businesses affected by the pandemic. But the biggest shift is that, instead of one winner and two runner-ups that receive funding, all ten designers are awarded a grant, as well as personal mentorship with industry leaders based on “designated areas of need.”
“After an incredibly challenging time for all of us in fashion, especially here in New York, we’re thrilled that this year we are able to support all of our finalists,” said Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer of Condé Nast. “It’s not only a vote of confidence in their talents, but in a brighter future for American fashion.”
“This year’s talented group of Fashion Fund finalists is facing an industry in the process of reinvention and transformation,” said Tom Ford, chairman of the CFDA. “The program’s new format aims to help the designers better navigate and thrive in fashion’s future.”
See the full list of finalists below.
Batsheva, Batsheva Hay
Eckhaus Latta, Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta
Hanifa, Anifa Mvuemba
House of Aama, Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka
Kenneth Nicholson, Kenneth Nicholson
Khiry, Jameel Mohammed
LaQuan Smith, LaQuan Smith
Studio One Eighty Nine, Abrima Erwiah
Theophilio, Edvin Thompson
Willy Chavarria, Willy Chavarria