fashionologie

Sophie Theallet On What She Plans to Do With Her Newfound CFDA/Vogue-Granted Funds

fashionologie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:43:08 PST

>> Sophie Theallet, who took home the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize of $200,000 last month, sat down with Cathy Horyn to discuss what she plans to do with those new funds.

Her experience designing knitwear for Jean Paul Gaultier and assisting Azzedine Alaia has spurred her: “I want to do some knits.” She also wants to set up a showroom during the upcoming Paris Fashion Week to meet with international buyers. Theallet isn't, however, looking to expand her line significantly or move into a larger workspace (she currently works out of the living room of her Brooklyn apartment).

As for the year-long mentorship she's awarded as part of her win, Theallet wants to work with Oscar de la Renta, because his company "focuses on craftsmanship [and] has a studio atmosphere similar to that found in Paris."

Lanvin Gets Cash Money; Alber Elbaz Is "Really Scared of Bloggers"

fashionologie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:48:51 PST

>> Lanvin announced today that an anonymous European family holding company took a 12.5 percent stake in the company, ending a long quest by majority owner Shaw-Lan Wang to take the brand to the next level. The investment - thought to be on the order of about $37 million - is understand to be longterm, so don't expect the brand to change hands any time soon; LVMH's Bernard Arnault has been interested in recent years, but Wang is unwilling to give up majority control as Arnault would require.

“The company is really healthy. We only need to accelerate,” Lanvin EVP Thierry Andretta told WWD of the move. “We will be looking worldwide for great opportunities.” It is expected that the capital will help expand Lanvin's retail network, and if more funds are needed, the anonymous investor has the ability to inject more while still maintaining a minority share.

How does Alber feel about it all? »

Sophie Theallet Takes Home 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Win

fashionologie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:48:45 PST

>> Last night, with the help of keynote speaker Alber Elbaz, who doled out gems on the perils of success - "It's like a bottle of perfume. You smell it, you don't sniff it or drink it" - Alaia veteran and Michelle Obama favorite Sophie Theallet took home the 2009 Vogue/Fashion Fund prize of $200,000 and a year of mentoring. Fellow nominees Patrik Ervell and Monique Pean were named runners-up, and received $50,000 each plus a business mentor.

In her speech, Anna Wintour said that in addition to the US, Italy, and the UK - which just started a similar talent-nurturing program - she just met with the French minister of culture about mirroring the contest there. "And Brazil, India, Russia, and China aren't far behind."

Theallet Tweeted of her win: "my american dream comes true tonight thanks and much love to all of you!xox." Cathy Horyn, too, weighed in on the choice:

"The money and the mentoring will help Ms. Theallet because she needs to be able to offer more range in her collection, as well as expand her production options. She has such a distinctly feminine eye, and the skills, that I’ve often wondered why a big retailer doesn’t ask Ms. Theallet to design some blouses and summer dresses for them, using the store’s resources and manufacturing connections."

Videos of the nominees going through the competition and the awards ceremony last night can be seen here and here, respectively.

View Slideshow ›

Get to Know the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees

fashionologie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:32:38 PDT

>> This year's ten CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists have just been announced - they range from the eco-conscious (Monique Pean, Alabama Chanin) to cobblers (Esquivel Shoes) to straight-up womenswear designers (Sophie Theallet, Wayne, Ohne Titel, Gary Graham). Anna Wintour noted, “We had very strong applicant pool this year, particularly among the jewelers" - here's looking at lucky jewelry nominees Pean and House of Waris. The winner and runners-up, who are bestowed with cash prizes and industry mentorship, will be announced Nov. 16 at the annual gala.

Until then, an introduction (minus menswear nominees Patrik Ervell and Simon Spurr of Spurr).

View Slideshow ›

fashionologie — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:49:48 PDT

>> INSIDER WIRE — You may not be able to buy style, but you can most certainly buy your way into New York Fashion Week — if you have an American Express card. For $250 a pop, you can choose two-show packages that include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang, or if you're feeling even more spendy, you can nab yourself a whole day at the Tents.

For those who protest at the notion of buying invites, rest easy — the money helps fund American Express's donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. [FabSugar]

The 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists Announced

fashionologie — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:34:07 PDT

>> The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund judging committee - which this year includes Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Vogue's Mark Holgate, Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey and Nordstrom, CFDA executive director Steven Kolb, Reed Krakoff, Andrew Rosen, Diane von Furstenberg, Jenna Lyons, and Anna Wintour - have determined the 2011 finalists. They are:

AA, Antonio Azzuolo
Altuzarra, Joseph Altuzarra
Carlos Campos, Carlos Campos
Creatures of the Wind, Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters
Cushnie Et Ochs, Michelle Ochs and Carly Cushnie
Finn Jewelry, Soraya Silchenstedt
Fenton/Fallon, Dana Lorenz
Ohne Titel, Alexa Adams and Flora Gill
Pamela Love
Suno, Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty

Joseph Altuzarra and Pamela Love are repeat finalists from last year, and Ohne Titel was a finalist in 2009. The winner and two runners-up will be announced Nov. 14.

Joseph Altuzarra, Eddie Borgo, Prabal Gurung Among 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Nominees

fashionologie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:44:03 PDT

>> The ten nominees for the 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award have just been announced; the winner, who is awarded $200,000 and a yearlong mentorship, will be determined in November, as will two runners-up, who receive $50,000 each. For the last few years, the winner and runners-up have also worked with Gap as part of a limited-edition Gap Design Edition collaboration to help their labels more exposure.

The 2010 nominees »

Alexander Wang Takes Home 2009 Swiss Textile Award; Kate Mulleavy On Why Her Label Is Called "Rodarte," Not "Mulleavy"

fashionologie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:37:42 PST

>> Alexander Wang is experiencing quite the winning streak - he was awarded the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund of $200,000 last November, the 2009 CFDA Swarovski Womenswear winner this past June, and now he's taking home the 2009 Swiss Textiles Award, a prize of about $150,000, to go towards international development. Wang becomes the second American designer in a row to win the Swiss Textiles Award, following after Rodarte, who were the first American winners ever last year.

The jury this year, chaired by Isabel Toledo, apparently had a tough time making a decision - Wang's fellow finalists this year were Peter Pilotto, Erdem, Thakoon, Alexis Mabille, and Ohne Titel, who will each receive a prize of approximately $6,000.

Former winners, Raf Simons, Kate Mulleavy sound off »

Alexander Wang Racks Up Another Award Nomination, Used to Use Craigslist Models

fashionologie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:54:44 PDT

>> Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte became the first American designers to take home the 100,000 euro Swiss Textile Award last year, and the 2009 nominees are half American brands this time around: Thakoon Panichgul, Ohne Titel, Alexander Wang, Erdem, Alexis Mabille, and Peter Pilotto among them.

A winner will be announced Nov. 12, but in the meantime, Wang, who's been on an winning streak with the 2009 Swarovski Award for Womenswear and the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award under his belt, recently spoke to Vogue about how he's gotten so far in such a short time.

He's known for his model selection now, but in the beginning, they came from Craigslist.

"In one of the first pictures we did, the model, who we found on Craigslist, was just wearing a sweater, slouching, and smoking a cigarette. People identified with her then, and she hasn’t changed much since.”

"When I first started, my product was definitely a lot safer . . ." »

2009 CFDA Award Nominees Announced

fashionologie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:29:41 PDT

>> The 2009 CFDA Award nominees have just been announced, and Marc Jacobs has already won an award - the International Award for his work at Louis Vuitton (he's nominated in two more categories). Last year's Swarovski Award winners, Rodarte and Band of Outsiders, have both been bumped up to compete in the respective major league categories, and 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund contenders Albertus Q. Swanepoel, Alejandro Ingelmo, and Jason Wu have all entered the Swarovski Award ring this year.

We'll have to wait until June 15 to see who wins what, but the ceremony might mark fashion's first Michelle Obama event appearance - she's being honored with this year's Board of Director's Special Tribute for her style choices and penchant for up-and-coming talent.

And now, the nominees . . . »