A new wave of remarkably diverse and international finalists has been chosen by Fashion Trust U.S., the nonprofit dedicated to supporting emerging designers. The news was announced at a cocktail event Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
The awards show, now in its third year, will be held April 8 in L.A., with Google Shopping as presenting sponsor, and will offer winners cash prizes as well as access to mentorship. Last year’s ceremony brought out Paris Hilton, Zooey Deschanel, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cynthia Erivo and more.
In ready-to-wear, the finalists are Rachel Scott of Diotima, who won the Council of Fashion Designers of America Women’s Designer of the Year award in 2024 and is known for her sultry sportswear and hand-crocheted pieces inspired by her Jamaican heritage; Grace Ling, whose surrealist designs have been worn by Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Anya Taylor-Joy; Jakarie Whitaker of Hikari no Yami, a brand introduced in 2019 and focused on deconstructed tailoring, and Nana Kwame Adusei of Kwame Adusei, the L.A.-based brand that has attracted Ciara and Kylie Jenner with its contemporary silhouettes with West African influences.
The jewelry finalists are all based in New York City; there’s Bernard James, creating fine jewelry from Brooklyn, who recently won a grant at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala; Kia Schwaninger of Kia Schwan, who launched her brand offering unique, custom pieces in 2022 after experience as former Van Cleef & Arpels senior designer and Harry Winston design director; Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz of Beck, who takes inspiration from her Caribbean roots, and Reut Ringel of Reut, known for developing black gold.
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In accessories, too, the labels are from New York. Danielle Griffiths of Clyde began with crocheted wool accessories before expanding with sculptural hats and minimalist leather handbags; Paradis Winslet’s namesake eyewear label is rooted in East African culture; Marianna Senderkis of Senderkis has been creating handbags and accessories from natural materials, and Michal Lifshitz of Poemet is an Israeli designer making vibrant silk scarves.
The Graduate category finalists are New York City-based designer, tailor and patternmaker Bashar Abouljoud from Parsons School of Design; Bryan Barrientos, a Peruvian-American dressmaker from the Fashion Institute of Technology; Eunhae Cho, a Korean designer from FIT, and Patrick Taylor, a knitwear designer from London, based in New York and coming from Parsons.
The 16 finalists (operating their businesses between two to seven years, as per criteria) were chosen by the board members of Fashion Trust U.S. — founder Tania Fares, journalist Laura Brown, Hollywood agent Maha Dakhil, fashion stylists Karla Welch and Law Roach, fashion editor and stylist Carlos Nazario, and fashion director and Decades founder Cameron Silver — with the help of the advisory board, including designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Mike Amiri, Michael Kors, Laurie Lynn Stark, Fernando Garcia, Casey Cadwallader, Francesco Risso, Olympia Gayot, Jennifer Meyer and Brandon Blackwood, alongside Anne Crawford, Bethann Hardison, Tan France and Carmen Busquets.
Fashion Trust U.S. also includes a group of ambassadors; it’s a mix of creatives supporting the cause: Erivo, Janelle Monae, Erin Walsh, Kate Hudson, Laverne Cox, Monique Lhuillier, Petra Flannery, Riley Keough, Adir Abergel, Amber Valletta, Bob Mackie, Chriselle Lim, Daniela Villegas, Elizabeth Stewart, Jamie Mizrahi, Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, Ugo Mozie, Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald.
The finalists will showcase their work to the Fashion Trust U.S. panel the day of the awards ceremony, and will also be considered for the Sustainability Award. Winners receive financial support with grants between $100,000 and $200,000, as well as mentorship from industry leaders.
It was in 2022 that Fares brought her organization, Fashion Trust, to the U.S. She started out supporting up-and-coming design talents in the U.K. in 2011.
SOURCE: Women’s Wear Daily
