The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc., is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of more than 470 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessories designers. The CFDA Foundation Inc., is a separate not-for-profit organization, which was created to raise funds for charity and industry activities. Letter from the President, Diane von Furstenberg, and the Chief Executive Officer, Steven Kolb The CFDA Fashion Calendar evolved This was also a milestone year for digitally with online updates and the CFDA’s philanthropies. We raised organizational features. funds for disaster relief through our Other highlights include the Fashion partnership with MyHabit, which Manufacturing Initiative, which, in its featured merchandise from 50 CFDA second year, continued to preserve designers. The CFDA also celebrated the integrity of the Garment District the twentieth anniversary of Fashion by distributing grants to factories Targets Breast Cancer with Maria and improving factory conditions. Sharapova serving as the face of our The Strategic Partnerships Group campaign and partners like Nine West collaborated with businesses, including supporting the cause. With the funds Amazon, American Express, eBay, Intel, raised, the CFDA will now have the and P&G, to provide key resources and opportunity to allocate more grants benefits for the CFDA Membership. to those in need. Nine years ago, we started our journey The CFDA also continued to cultivate There is so much more to share, to lead the CFDA. Now, it is with great American design talent by providing so please take time to read through pride that we look at what it has become: scholarships to university students and the entire report. the platform for American fashion. It is by making CFDA+ a global initiative to As we look ahead, together we an amazing platform for an industry of link even more graduates to fashion jobs. pledge to keep working on behalf of creativity and commerce—an industry The CFDA’s {FASHION INCUBATOR} fashion. There is truly no organization that brings jobs and great pride to our program grew and nurtured ten selected like the CFDA, and with every decision country. This report serves as a tangible brands with offices in the Garment we make, we will always be sure to summary of the CFDA’s diverse work District. With the CFDA/Vogue Fashion fulfill our mission statement of and successes over just the past year. Fund in its eleventh year, the CFDA promoting American fashion within Our Annual Report includes the remained committed to fostering the the global economy. CFDA’s biggest news of 2014: taking over next wave of American design talent. Love, the Fashion Calendar. We are honored This year, Paul Andrew became the first Diane and Steven to continue what Ruth Finley started 65 footwear designer to take home the top years ago—the premier scheduling tool prize. Creating further engagement, for designers, press, retailers, public- the public had the chance to watch the relations/event-planning firms, and process unfold on the Ovation television anyone else connected to the industry. show The Fashion Fund. 2 The Newly Inducted 2014 Members Membership Opportunities / In Memoriam / Current Roster Membership in the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is open to Americans who are designing in the United States or abroad, or international designers whose businesses are based in the United States. Applicants must meet certain criteria and submit a visual presentation of their work, accompanied by a detailed written application and letters of recommendation. The Admissions Committee meets annually to review candidates’ applications before making recommendations to the CFDA’s Board of Directors. An affirmative vote by the Board is required for the acceptance of each new Member. 3 4 Membership The New Members FRONT ROW: CLARE VIVIER, STEVEN KOLB, STAN HERMAN, JUSSARA LEE, EVA ZUCKERMAN, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, KENNETH COLE, PAIGE NOVICK, ARIELLE SHAPIRO, LIYA KEBEDE, LINDA BALTI, KRISTY CAYLOR, AND WHITNEY POZGAY The Newly Inducted BACK ROW: SHEA PARTON, CYNTHIA SAKAI, VIRGINIE PROMEYRAT, ULLA JOHNSON, VERONICA MIELE BEARD, VERONICA SWANSON BEARD, RUTHIE DAVIS, SHARON KHAZZAM, ERNEST SABINE, CARLOS CAMPOS, TIM COPPENS, 2014 Members Are... JOHNNY TALBOT, AND RAAN PARTON 5 6 Membership The New Members LINDA BALTI ARIELLE SHAPIRO Carlos Campos NYC. The brand’s art at the Cooper Union, Zuckerman LIYA KEBEDE Phyne by Paige Novick, and it was picked AMOUR VERT ARI DEIN modern take on classic American style draws inspiration from the industrial, LEMLEM up quickly by Fivestory and Saks Fifth Linda Balti, founder and creative Founded in 2009 by the fine-lingerie with a Latin twist immediately earned architectural, and geometric elements Founded in 2007 by the supermodel, Avenue. Her collections boast simple director of the eco-fashion brand Amour designer Arielle Shapiro, Ari Dein him respect and accolades. In 2011, of the urban landscape. She explores actress, and maternal-health advocate elegance, striking the perfect balance Vert, assumed her role in the fashion has quickly developed a reputation Campos was selected as a finalist for these contrasting elements in her Liya Kebede, Lemlem is fresh, chic, and between seriousness and whimsy, of-the- industry armed with an unconventional for locally produced luxury goods in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. collection—pairing structured, strong modern with a spirit that is undeniably moment relevance and timeless design. background and a passion for Manhattan and beyond. Shapiro’s shapes with dynamic, organic elements, African. The line is available at select environmental consciousness. In 2009, collection speaks to a time when custom CLARE VIVIER including multidimensional stones and retailers worldwide and has expanded RUTHIE DAVIS after reading that the apparel industry lingerie was made to order and produced CLARE V. inverted diamonds. Made of precious to include a home collection. Lemlem, RUTHIE DAVIS was the second most polluting one with great care. In 2012, Ari Dein was While working for a French television metals like 18K gold paired with unusual meaning “to bloom” or “to flourish” in Ruthie Davis honed her design skills after oil production, she joined forces selected to participate in the CFDA’s channel and traveling, Clare Vivier materials, each piece of Eva Fehren Amharic, is handmade in Ethiopia from at Ugg Australia and Tommy Hilfiger with her husband, Christoph Frehsee, prestigious {FASHION INCUBATOR} noticed a lack of functional yet jewelry is hand-crafted in New York City. natural cotton and is rooted in tradition, before launching her own label, to create the brand. Using the highest- program. In 2013, Shapiro was tapped by fashionable laptop cases. She decided but is woven with a modern touch. Ruthie Davis, in 2006. Designed in quality organic and sustainable fabrics Carolina Herrera to collaborate on the to make her own, which she quickly JONATHAN SIMKHAI Although it recently expanded beyond the New York and handmade in Italy, and low-impact dyes, Balti has company’s first-ever sleepwear capsule parlayed into the creation of her own JONATHAN SIMKHAI handwoven category, the brand continues Ruthie Davis is renowned for its practices that continue to employ a collection, Ari Dein for Carolina Herrera. namesake handbag label. Vivier’s Jonathan Simkhai launched his to maintain its full production in Africa. architectural shapes, luxurious mix zero-waste philosophy. She produces designs marry classic French glamour namesake collection in 2010, presenting of materials, uncompromising quality, each collection in California, where ASHLEY PITTMAN with minimalist L.A. cool in a line of his take on sophisticated dressing for KRISTY CAYLOR and vivid color palette offering a she and the company are based. ASHLEY PITTMAN handbags and clutches that are at once the modern, cosmopolitan woman. MAIYET unique fusion of power and sensuality. The inspiration behind Ashley Pittman’s utilitarian and stylish. With a nod to His collection indulges in ambiguity, In 2010, Kristy Caylor cofounded Maiyet, a eponymous brand began in Africa in socially conscious construction, each blurring the gender lines within fashion pioneering luxury brand that incorporates 2006, when she served as a volunteer for bag proudly bears the motto locally and sexuality. Charged by menswear artisanal skills from unexpected places the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Health made. From conception to realization, and drawing inspiration from beautiful across the world. Reviving ancient Access Initiative in Rwanda. Her jewelry her line has been produced exclusively fabrics like cashmere, wool, cotton, techniques and showcasing the raw talent features natural horn carved by a women’s in Los Angeles since 2008. and silk, Simkhai brings forth classic of top emerging artisan communities, cooperative; fair-trade semiprecious codes translated into sexy and feminine Maiyet aims to promote sustainable gemstones; and the use of bronze and DANIELLE SHERMAN silhouettes. The designer recently employment in places that need it most. other materials indigenous to East EDUN participated in the CFDA {FASHION Caylor began her fashion career working Africa. In addition to providing stability Danielle Sherman founded The Row INCUBATOR} program and was one at Gap, Inc., and has consulted for global to the individuals behind every piece of with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, of the 2014–2015 nominees for the brands including Stronghold Denim, jewelry,