The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) held gave out this year’s competition awards at the Spring Studios in New York on November 2, 2015. For the last 12 years, the fund has initiated a competition and awarded over $4 million in prize money to the best new designers. Such was the closeness of the competition this year, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has been handed to three brands, as opposed to the usual one. Three winners, rather than one, were chosen for Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund awards that include $300,000 for each, along with a year’s worth of mentoring.
Jonathan Simkhair, Aurora James (Brother Vellies) and Rio Uribe (Gypsy Sport) photographed by Jeff Henrikson for Vogue (via Vogue.com)
Aurora James of Brother Vellies, Rio Uribe of Gypsy Sport and Jonathan Simkhai were announced as winners Tuesday during the fund’s annual awards dinner. It’s the first time in the fund’s 12-year history that three equal winners were chosen. Brother Vellies creates footwear inspired by and handmade in Africa. Gypsy Sport was founded on cool-kid headwear and Simkhai designs contemporary, sophisticated womenswear.
CFDA Winners Aurora James, Jonathan Simkhair and Rio UribeIn addition to receiving an investment, the designers will be mentored through the next levels of their career. Previous winners include Alexander Wang, Public School and Joseph Altuzarra, so there’s plenty to live up to.
Good luck to the winners and we will be watching.
-Tiffany Scott-Clemente
