>> The CFDA Fashion Incubator, announced last October in partnership with New York City's Mayor Bloomberg, has its first twelve tenants. Among those named as part of the inaugural group of designers: Alice Ritter, Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Gemma Redux's Rachel Dooley, Grey Ant's Grant Krajecki, House of Waris's Waris Ahluwalia, Jolibe's Joel Diaz, Lewis's Alison Lewis, Public School's Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, Ruby Kobo's Yuvi Alpert and Danna Kobo, and Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giunta.
The designers each received two-year leases on design studio spaces ranging from 800 to 1,000 square feet at 209 West 38th Street in Manhattan, with subsidized, below-market rental rates of between $1,500 and $2,000 per month. To earn a spot, the designers had to submit a business plan, show they had "substantive editorial coverage" and orders from high-level retailers, have been in business for over a year and a half, and be supporting a staff.
Bibhu Mohapatra
Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Justin Giunta Among Inaugural Fashion Incubator Designers
>> INSIDER WIRE — Lauren Santo Domingo has earned plenty of fans for her personal style and put in her hours as a sittings editor for Vogue; now, she's lending a show-styling hand to at least two-and-coming designers in two days — J.Mendel alum Bibhu Mohapatra (Fall 2009 look, left), and Christian Cota, Fashion Group International's 2009 Rising Star (Jason Wu was 2008's): "I think you’ll see a new edge to Christian’s always impeccable uptown polish.” [Hint, Style File]
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Fall 2009 Fashion Week: Still with New Blood
>> Even established designers are editing, editing, editing for Fashion Week — the number of models, the number of looks, the amount of fabric used — but the tight times aren't keeping a crop of new blood away. Joining former Bill Blass design director Prabal Gurung and Swaim and Christina Hutson, who are starting over with a new label, in the mix — alums of Central Saint Martins, FIT, and Parsons; apprentices of Marc Jacobs, J.Mendel, and Ralph Lauren; but most importantly, New York Fashion Week virgins — show us what you've got.
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