The fashion crowd came out in full force Wednesday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund at a cocktail party and dinner at New York’s Monkey Bar, powered by Gap Inc.
Guests included Jean Paul Gaultier, David and Victoria Beckham, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Gabby Thomas, Honey Dijon, Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, Winnie Harlow, Aurora James, Jordan Roth, Willy Chavarria, Christopher John Rogers, Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, Richard Dickson and Zac Posen.
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“When we launched this program two decades ago, I don’t think we knew the profound impact America would have on the global fashion landscape,” said Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. “In fact, it launched the careers of many designers and a new generation of American talent, and many of you are here tonight.”
The highlight of the night was the naming of L’Enchanteur’s Dynasty and Soull Ogun as this year’s recipient of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, which comes with $300,000 in prize money and mentoring opportunities.
“I’m so honored and happy to be seen for who we really are and who we are,” Dynasty Ogun told WWD. “I feel like the judges really connected with us, and we connected with them.” She said going through the entire process was a “huge privilege” and allowed them to “connect with the upper echelons of the fashion world”.
“They really saw us and said, ‘Be who you are, be who you are,’” he said.
Her identical twin sister Soull Ogun, known for her jewellery, explained that her collections are based on spirituality and include spiritual symbols and mysticism. “This is really about our healing journey,” he said. Having this conversation about recovery is what propels them to the audience.
With the prize money, they plan to “establish deeper roots” with the brand and expand the business. They want to learn more about gold mining and use gems as a stepping stone to understanding natural resources.
The sisters started the business in 2017, but as twins, “we’ve been working together since 1984,” Soull Ogun said.
The runners-up, who will each receive $100,000 in prize money, are Jackson Wiederhoeft from Wiederhoeft and Spencer Phipps from Phipps.
“It feels surreal,” Wiederhoeft said after the announcement. With the reward money, he plans to take care of inventory management and hire someone. “We’re just two people,” he said. Wiederhoeft, known for her eveningwear and bridal collection, said the experience was “wonderful and really wonderful.”
When asked what he plans to do with the prize money, sustainable menswear designer Phipps said: “It’s very expensive to make such beautiful clothes. I hope to continue this.”
Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas, who won three gold medals in Paris this summer, said as she presented awards to the winners during the program that her first big win came when she won the NCAA championship in her junior year of college. “Hopefully the guys I read will feel this is a big win for them and it will lead to many golden moments in the future,” Thomas said.
Celebrating its 55th year in the industry, The Gap, Gap Inc. He gave the 20th Anniversary Mentorship Award given by Grace Ling for the first time. Zac Posen, executive vice president and creative director of Gap Inc., will mentor Ling and join the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Award 2025 selection committee.
Posen told the crowd he had received “incredible support” from other designers throughout his career, and in fact, Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole undertook his second collection without ever meeting him. “They took a leap of faith and it changed my life,” Posen said. He said that if there was an opportunity he could give to the next generation, he would do it.
“It was a really nice surprise,” Ling told WWD. “This is a new award and I’m excited to push the boundaries and turn this into something truly significant.” He hopes to hire someone for operations with a financial donation and plans to scale his new couture and direct-to-consumer business.
Tommy Hilfiger, one of the mentors, said, “Grace Ling has such talent. “He is an artist but also a perfectionist.” He was equally impressed by L’Enchanteur’s designs. “You should have seen the denim they made last week [in the Design Challenge]. If they get the right business management, they will do very well,” Hilfiger said.
The CFDA’s Kolb said it was hard to make a decision this year. “There was tremendous talent. You don’t get into the top 10 unless you do something really good.” He said there was such diversity this year too. “You had children’s clothes, men’s clothes, women’s clothes. “There was something very special and unique about each of them.”
Alongside L’Enchanteur, Wiederhoeft, Phipps and Ling’s Dynasty and Soull Ogun, this year’s finalists are 5000’s Taylor Thompson; Connor McKnight; Kate Barton; Presley Oldham; Sebastien and Marianne Amisial and Jane Wade by Sebastien Ami.
He said The Gap is now a major partner of the CFDA. Gap Inc. While speaking with CEO Dickson and Posen, they thought about how to mark their support differently. “Can you imagine spending a year with Zac and then getting the Gap infrastructure? “This is a double win,” he said.
He said all 10 finalists “had special access to a select group of people.”
“They don’t need to be afraid to ask for help. You have easy access to information that other young designers don’t have,” Kolb said.
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