The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) continues to nurture and promote the next generation of fashion designers with the addition of 16 new interim members to its roster. This initiative, introduced in 2022, aims to provide a platform for designers in business for less than five years, offering them resources, mentorship, and opportunities to grow and eventually become full CFDA members.
The CFDA’s interim membership tier was established in 2022 as an invitation-only, temporary three-year term for designers who have been in the industry for under five years. With the recent inclusion of 16 new talents, the current total of interim designers stands at 36. The initiative not only grants access to full member benefits, but also provides invaluable resources, introductions, and personalized mentorship. Moreover, the interim members enjoy waived membership dues for the entire duration of their three-year term, provided they remain active participants.
The newly-inducted interim members comprise a diverse group of designers, including Jacques Agbobly, Patrick Christopher, Tamara Davydova, Lizzie Grover Rad, Charles Harbison, Joseph Keefer, Elizabeth Kuzyk, Andrew Kwon, Marie Laffont, Grace Ling, Andrea Mary Marshall, Stephen Mikhail, Nicholas Raefski, Esha Soni, Josh Tafoya and Jackson Wiederhoeft.
Lisa Smilor, Executive Vice President of the CFDA, expressed her pride in welcoming these promising talents to the organization, stating, “In the short time that each has been in business, they have shown great promise for a long and successful career ahead. We will work together to assure that they have a solid framework and network in place to support the future growth of their businesses”.
This expansion follows the CFDA’s recent announcement of 10 new full members, bringing the total CFDA membership to 474 designers across womenswear, menswear, jewelry, eyewear, and accessories.
Earlier this year, five CFDA interim members, including Patrick Cupid, Emma Gage, Nicole Muhammad, Michael Ward, and Marrisa Wilson, had the opportunity to showcase their collections at The Canvas’ World Trade Center in New York for the first quarter of 2023. This unique platform allowed these online-only designers to benefit from a “turnkey” brick-and-mortar location, further expanding their reach and visibility in the fashion world.
