Tiffany & Co began a three-year partnership with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund with a $1 million donation. Part of the grant includes a donation of $250,000 for one of nine jewelry designers who have been a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist who best demonstrates his or her ability to develop their designs as an independent entity. The money will go towards the brand’s business development.
The jewelry designers eligible for the grant are: Eddie Borgo, Philip Crangi, Monique Pean, Subversive Jewelry, Dean Harris, Irene Nuwirth, House of Waris, Pamela Love and Anthony nak. They were selected among CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund since its inaugural year in 2004.
The nine jewelry designers nominated for the prize have been sent applications to apply for the $250,000 grant. The applications—which require; a portfolio, financial information and information on the brand—will be judged by Tiffany & Co. chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalski, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Vogue senior accessories editor Filipa Fino and CFDA executive director Steven Kolb. Applications for the grant are being accepted through July 8. The the winner will be announced this summer.
“As a leader in the jewelry industry, it is important to us that the next generation of talented jewelry designers are able to succeed in the face of the many business challenges they face,” Kowalski said. “Partnering with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, this grant is intended to continue to develop jewelry as an important field of design.”
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund helps emerging American designers pursue their design and business plans. In addition to grants of $300,000 to the winner and $100,000 each to the two runners-up, the awards include a yearlong mentorship with an industry professional whose business expertise is tailored to the designers’ needs and future goals.
Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc., is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 370 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers.