The CFDA/VOGUE FASHION FUND helps emerging American designers pursue their design and business plans. In addition to grants of $300,000 to the winner and $100,000 each to the two runners-up, the awards include a yearlong mentorship with an industry professional whose business expertise is tailored to the designers' needs and future goals.
To Be Eligible, an Applicant Must:
• Be a designer of demonstrable talent– i.e., have garnered substantial (and recent) editorial coverage, and have support (orders) from top retailers;
• Be American or have established a primary design business in the United States;
• Be in business for a minimum of two years;
• Have professional staff, paid or volunteer, that can devote the time and effort required to accomplish the stated aims of an applicant's design career plans;
• Request and submit a Preliminary Application,accompanied by a 350-word biographical statement, which should include a summary of the applicant's design career, by Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
The 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is in partnership with J.Crew, and is generously underwritten by American Express, Appleman Foundation, Barneys New York, Carolina Herrera, Ltd., Coach, Liz Claiborne Inc., Lord & Taylor, L'Oréal Paris, Nordstrom, thecorner.com -Yoox Group, Theory, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Hilfiger, and Vogue.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 370 of America's foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers.
Council of Fashion Designers of America Inc