Today, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue selected the 10 finalists of this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Founded in 2003 to both help emerging designers and cultivate the fashion industry in New York City, the Fund awards a winner a grand prize of $300,000 and two runner-ups $100,000 each, and also provides mentorship from key members of the fashion industry. The pandemic brought a pause to the competition aspect of the Fund, and the 2021 and 2022 editions awarded a cash prize and mentorship to all of the finalists.
This year’s selection committee includes the Chief Content Officer of Condé Nast and Global Editorial Director of Vogue Anna Wintour, designer and CFDA Chairman Thom Browne, CFDA CEO Steven Kolb, Mark Holgate and Chioma Nnadi of Vogue, Brother Vellies designer and Fifteen Percent Pledge founder Aurora James, Saks Fifth Avenue fashion director Roopal Patel, Instagram Director of Fashion Partnerships Eva Chen, Nordstrom EVP Sam Lobban, Nick Molnar, Founder of Afterpay & The Next Generation; and model and activist Paloma Elsesser.
“It’s so important that the world sees this new generation of American designers… The talent in the United States is unparalleled in regards to creativity and diversity and, moreover, truly American,” Browne said in a statement. “The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund shines an important and generous light on this.”
The 10 finalists for the 2023 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund are: Colin LoCascio; Everard Best and Téla D’Amore of Who Decides War; Kozaburu’s Kozaburu Akasaka; Melitta Baumeister, Kim Shui; Tanner Fletcher founders Fletcher Kasell and Tanner Richie; Zankov’s Henry Zankov; 4S Design’s Angelo Fabricio Urrutía; Sami Miró Vintage, and Diotima’s Rachel Scott.
“Every year I am astounded by how much talent we have in this country, with designers who are as wildly creative as they are sensitive to the world today,” said Wintour. “They’re not only imaginative, but they strive to be thought leaders and community creators, reminding us that fashion can be meaningful to everyone. I’m delighted to say that this year’s 10 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists are all those things—and more. My congratulations to our class of 2023.”