Le Chalet at Saks Fifth Avenue was buzzing with anticipation, as the 2024 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, were revealed today. “This milestone year’s group of CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists reflects the creativity and diversity of American design, from women’s and men’s sportswear to eveningwear and semi-precious, fashion and ethical jewelry,” said Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, in a press release.
The 10 finalists are: Sebastien Ami by Sebastien and Marianne Amisial, Kate Barton, Grace Ling, Connor McKnight, L’Enchanteur by Dynasty and Soull Ogun, Presley Oldham, Phipps by Spencer Phipps, 5000 by Taylor Thompson, Jane Wade, and Wiederhoeft by Jackson Wiederhoeft. The group is representative of the way contemporary creatives express themselves across gender and product categories—with menswear, womenswear, unisex or gender-neutral collections, and jewelry and accessories all being represented. One of the finalists also has a bridal collection.
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established in 2003 to help support the next generation of emerging American designers. Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez were the first-ever recipients of the awards carving a path for designers like Joseph Altuzarra (2011 winner), Jennifer Fisher (2012 finalist), Telfar (2017 winner), Bode’s Emily Adams Bode Aujla (2018 runner-up), Christopher John Rogers (2019 winner), and last year’s winner Melitta Baumeister, to follow in their footsteps.
“What better way to celebrate the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund’s 20th year than with this year’s group of finalists, who perfectly represent the creativity and ambition of American fashion today?” added Anna Wintour, Chief Content Officer, Condé Nast and Global Editorial Director, Vogue. “Every year the finalists thrill and surprise us as we get to know them, and the class of 2024 will, I am sure, be no different.”
Kolb and Wintour, along with a distinguished panel of industry professionals that included Vogue’s Mark Holgate and Nicole Phelps, Instagram’s Eva Chen, SVP and Fashion Director at Saks Roopal Patel, VP and Fashion Director at Nordstrom Rickie de Sole, the model Paloma Elsesser, Brother Vellies Creative Director and Fifteen Percent Pledge founder Aurora James, and CFDA Chairman and designer Thom Browne, formed this year’s selection committee.
