New Designers Hatching at the {CFDA Fashion Incubator}

Designers of the CFDA {Fashion Incubator} with CFDA President, Diane Von Furstenberg
 Photograph from:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Wg6agMNy9jT0yM:http://ipod-iphone.chinawholesalelots.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/e519e_diane-von-furstenberg-participating-designers-cfda-590sd05242010.jpg&t=1

           Today, my New York Study Tour class traveled to a location that is extremely desired by young fashion designers. This sought after spot is the CFDA Fashion Incubator. The CFDA, or Council of Fashion Designers of America, is a non-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose members consists of more than 350 of America's most fashion forward womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers. The CFDA's board of directors include Michael Kors, Vera Wang, and Diane Von Furstenberg. The high-profile members of this board play a crucial role in organizing award ceremonies, such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, to acknowledge and honor the future generation of designers.
          The Fashion Incubator is the home to twelve young, talented designers. After submitting a detailed business plan, gaining substantial editorial coverage and orders from top retailers, maintaining their business for one and one half years, and having paid and/or volunteer professional staff, they were chosen to move into the incubator. The CFDA provides these designers with a discounted two-year lease on an 800-1,000 square foot space in the Garment Center that they can use as a studio or a showroom. In addition, the designers are given the opportunity to attend classes to receive assistance on their business plan and advertising their brand. Although the CFDA is still unsure of the exit strategy for the designers, they are sure that they want them to stay in the Garment Center to support the suffering Fashion District.
          During my study tour class' time at the Fashion Incubator, we were able to meet and talk to seven of these amazing designers. We were inspired by Alice Ritter, Dao- Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School, Yuvi Alpert of Ruby Kobo, Rachel Dooley of Gemma Redux, Sang A, Prabal Gurung, and Bibhu Mohapatra. Although all of these designers were amazing, my favorite was Sang A. Sang A is a designer of exotic skin and leather luxury handbags. Her handbags are worn by many celebrities, including Rhianna and Anne Hathaway. Sang A was a former Korean celebrity, but decided to come to the place that inspired her most, New York City, to pursue her lifelong design dream. With the CFDA Fashion Incubator, Sang A is making that dream a reality.

Sang A in her Studio

 Photograph from:

http://c1603302.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/92249_1274300206_486x.jpg