>> The CFDA has been busy lately, discussing the possibility of sponsoring sample sales for designers who don't have enough resources to do it on their own, commissioning books — including a fashion-related cookbook, and announcing an upcoming three-year partnership with Mattel.  But Monday night, we'll learn which of the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nominees will take home top honors, $200,000, and business advice, who will score one of the two runners-up titles and the $50,000 that comes with them, and who will try again next year.

The first award was given in 2004, with top honors going to Proenza Schouler; since then, Trovata (2005), Doo.Ri (2006), and Rogan (2007) have taken the top prize, and the likes of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Philip Crangi, Rodarte, Thakoon, Derek Lam, and Thom Browne have all been runners-up.  Without doubt, the winner generally has name recognition — and is in favor at Vogue — but tends to not be the biggest name in the group (i.e. Rogan over Phillip Lim last year).

So who will take all? »

>> The CFDA wouldn't support the British Fashion Council requiring models to obtain a health certificate, but they will be putting up a booth in the lobby and backstage of the Bryant Park tents during New York Fashion Week. 

In partnership with the Renfrew Center, a residential treatment facility for eating disorders, the booth will offer a clinician on site to answer any questions and provide referrals, information on the CFDA's current health guidelines, and an informational brochure on the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. 

Visitors will also be able to sign a proclamation of support for the health guidelines — the list of over 300 signatures already includes Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Derek Lam, Carolina Herrera, several editors, agents and models.

But health isn't the only issue on the CFDA's mind. Just last week, president Diane von Furstenberg and executive director Steven Kolb sent out a letter to the members, encouraging diversity on the runways:

We remain in full support of bringing more diversity to the runway and urge you to create shows that are truly multicultural. The fashion industry has great power. Together we can influence the vision of beauty so women can be celebrated no matter their size or skin color.

Only one short week and we'll see if either of these methods have any effects — somehow, I don't see the booth having any serious influence.
*image: source

>> A lot of attention has been placed lately on increasing model diversity, but what about that other troubled topic — model weight? 

Today, the British Fashion Council announced that their initiative to ban "size zero" models from the London catwalks next month has been abandoned after the other three major fashion capitals refused to follow suit. 

The plan was to require models to obtain a doctor's certificate proving they were in good health, but the Chambre Syndicale in Paris thought imposing model health certificates lay outside their realm, the Camera Nazionale della Moda in Milan preferred self-regulation, and according to Steven Kolb, executive director of New York's CFDA:

We looked at things like doctor’s certification and body mass index and decided that, for us, it wasn’t the appropriate recommendation. We felt it was wrong to force a girl to have a physical examination, especially because the signs of a problem aren’t always obvious.

After the negative reaction of its peers, London deferred — with fashion week coming up next month, if the city had imposed such strict standards alone, models would likely have skipped the city altogether.
*image: source

>> The CFDA loves Diane von Furstenberg's leadership so much, they decided to unanimously re-elect her as president again today for another two-year term.  It's been a big day for Diane, who was also inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame this morning.

Joining DVF in her celebrations are the 28 new CFDA members who were ratified today in categories ranging from high-end to contemporary, swimwear to jewelry.

Introducing the full list of the CFDA's new Ds»

>> INSIDER WIRE —Every year, we catch wind of which fledgling labels are up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund endowment, whether through film (hello, Seamless) or by simple announcement.  This year was like any other, with the ten nominees of 2008 being released earlier this month; however, Vena Cava did something different.  They've uploaded their application video, rife with the patent Vena Cava homegrown flavor, for the world to see. [COACD]