by The fashion crowd came out in full force Wednesday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund at a cocktail party and dinner at the Monkey Bar in New York, supported by Gap Inc.
Among the guests were Jean Paul Gaultier, David and Victoria Beckham, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Gabby Thomas, Honey Dijon, Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, Winnie Harlow, Aurora James, Jordan Roth, Willy Chavarria, Christopher John Rogers, Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, Richard Dickson and Zac Posen.
More from WWD
“When we launched this program two decades ago, I don’t think we knew the profound impact it would have on America’s global fashion landscape,” said Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America — yes “he launched the careers of so many designers and a new generation of American talent, and many of you are here tonight.”
The highlight of the evening was the naming of L’Enchanteur’s Dynasty and Soull Ogun as this year’s winners of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, which comes with $300,000 in prize money and mentoring opportunities.
“I feel very honored and blessed that we really saw who we were and who we are,” Ogun Dynasty told WWD. “I feel like the judges really connected with us, and we connected with them.” She said it was “such a privilege to go through the whole process,” and it allowed them to connect with the “upper echelon of the fashion world.
“They really saw us and said, ‘You, be you,'” she said.
Her identical twin sister, Soull Ogun, explained that their collection, which is known for its jewelry, is based on spirituality, incorporating spiritual symbols and mysticism. “It’s really about our healing journey,” she said. What gets them in the audience is having that conversation about healing.
With the prize money, they plan to “plant deeper roots” in the brand and expand the business. They want to understand more about gold mining and use jewelry as a stepping stone to understanding natural resources.
The sisters went into business in 2017, but as twins “we’ve been working together since 1984,” said Soull Ogun.
Jackson Wiederhoeft of Wiederhoeft and Spencer Phipps of Phipps will each receive a $100,000 cash prize.
“It feels surreal,” said Wiederhoeft, after the announcement. With the prize money, he intends to deal with inventory management and hire someone. “There are only two of us,” he said. Wiederhoeft, known for his eveningwear and bridal collection, said the experience was “amazing and wonderful”.
When asked what he plans to do with the prize money, Phipps, a sustainable menswear designer, said, “It’s very expensive to make such beautiful clothes. I look forward to continuing that.”
When Gabby Thomas, the Olympic sprinter who won three gold medals in Paris this summer, presented the winners with their awards during the program, she said her first big win came when she won the NCAA championships in her junior year of college . “I hope that the names that I am going to read will feel that this is their big win, and that many golden moments will arise in the future,” said Thomas.
For the first time ever, The Gap, which is celebrating its 55th year in business, presented a 20 Year Mentorship Award presented by Gap Inc. on Grace Ling. Zac Posen, executive vice president and creative director of Gap Inc., will serve as Ling’s mentor and serve as a member of the 2025 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Award selection committee.
Posen told the crowd that he had received “amazing support” from other designers throughout his career, and indeed, Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole underwrote his second collection without ever meeting him. “They took a leap of faith and it changed my life,” Posen said. He said if there was an opportunity he could give back to the next generation, he would.
“It was a big surprise,” Ling told WWD. “It’s a new award and I’m excited to push the boundaries and make it really substantial.” With the financial grant, she hopes to hire someone for operations and plans to expand her new and direct-to-consumer business.
Tommy Hilfiger, one of the mentors, said, “Grace Ling has such talent. She is an artist but also a perfectionist.” He was equally impressed with L’Enchanteur’s designs. “You should have seen the denim they did last week [in the Design Challenge]. If they get the right business management, they will go places,” Hilfiger said.
The CFDA’s Kolb said how difficult it was this year to make a decision. “There was such great talent. You don’t need to be in the top 10 unless you’re doing something really good.” He said that there was such a variety this year too. “You had children’s clothes, you had men’s clothes, you had women’s clothes. There was something very special and unique about each of them.”
As well as Dynasty and Soull Ogun from L’Enchanteur, Wiederhoeft, Phipps and Ling, this year’s finalists were Taylor Thompson of 5000; Connor McKnight; Kate Barton; Presley Oldham; Sebastien and Marianne Amisial of Sebastien Ami, and Jane Wade.
He said The Gap is now a major partner of the CFDA. When they were talking with Dickson, the CEO of Gap Inc., and Posen, they thought about how to mark their support in a different way. “Can you imagine getting a year to spend with Zac and then getting the Gap infrastructure? It’s a double win,” he said.
He said the 10 finalists have special access “to a distinguished group of people.
“They don’t need to be shy about asking for help. You have this knowledge that other young designers don’t have,” said Kolb.
The best of WWD
Sign up for the WWD Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
