By Mariah Benson, Senior Correspondent
The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue have revealed the ten finalists for the 2025 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, spotlighting a vibrant new generation of designers reshaping American fashion. This year’s honorees reflect a rich blend of cultural backgrounds, creative ideologies, and a strong focus on independent craftsmanship and sustainability.
Diverse Talent Defining a New Era of Fashion
The 2025 finalists are united not by similarity, but by their shared drive to build meaningful, individual fashion narratives. Their labels represent an impressive breadth of design—from sleek tailoring to expressive couture to modern accessories—and their stories echo a common theme: the importance of authenticity.
Among the standout names is Ashlynn Park, whose brand ASHLYN is recognized for its refined tailoring and architectural silhouettes. Park, originally from South Korea and now based in New York, merges Eastern influences with Western techniques to create pieces that are clean, striking, and emotionally resonant.
Julian Louie, the creative behind the label Aubero, fuses global inspirations with a minimalist yet storytelling-driven aesthetic. His collections often explore identity through fabric and structure, resulting in garments that are both intimate and bold.
Bach Mai, a returning finalist known for his dramatic designs and couture-level craftsmanship, presents work that is simultaneously timeless and theatrical. His emphasis on bold silhouettes and luxurious textures continues to elevate his reputation in the American fashion scene.
Stephanie Suberville’s label, Heirlome, blends heritage references with contemporary shapes, offering a feminine yet grounded interpretation of modern elegance. Her approach embraces quality, subtle narrative, and emotional design.
A Commitment to Sustainability and Storytelling
Sustainability has become a pillar of the fashion fund’s mission, and the 2025 class reflects this shift through both practice and principle. Designers like Ashley Moubayed of Don’t Let Disco work almost exclusively with vintage and upcycled materials. Her accessories brand turns discarded elements into highly covetable statement pieces, reinforcing the idea that fashion can be both beautiful and ecologically conscious.
Jewelry designer Bernard James brings a similar philosophy to his work, crafting each piece by hand in Brooklyn and prioritizing long-lasting quality over trend-driven output. His collections often pay tribute to community, identity, and the personal connections we make with jewelry.
Design duo Gabe Gordon and Timothy Gibbons present an innovative take on knitwear, fusing their individual artistic voices into a unified collection. Their brand, Gabe Gordon, is lauded for its emotional depth and finely constructed garments that bridge traditional and experimental design.
Meruert Tolegen, born in Kazakhstan and trained in the U.S., draws inspiration from her nomadic heritage. Her designs incorporate textural fabrications and layered silhouettes that tell stories of cultural fusion and personal evolution.
Celebrating Indigenous Voices and Personal Identity
Jamie Okuma, an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, creates fashion that integrates Native American artistic traditions into contemporary forms. Her garments celebrate indigenous identity with pride and sophistication, offering a refreshing perspective in a mainstream industry still evolving in its embrace of cultural inclusivity.
Peter Do, long recognized for his sharp tailoring and restrained elegance, rounds out the group with a collection that speaks to discipline and modern luxury. His participation signals the fund’s recognition of designers who not only master craft but also innovate consistently.
Beyond Funding: Mentorship and Growth
While the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund offers considerable financial support—$300,000 to the winner and $100,000 each to two runners-up—the program’s mentorship opportunities often prove even more valuable. Finalists receive direct guidance from industry leaders across retail, media, and design, including past recipients and seasoned executives.
This mentorship includes everything from business planning to manufacturing strategy to scaling sustainably. For young brands navigating a complex industry, these relationships can be critical in converting early promise into long-term success.
The fund was originally established in the wake of 9/11 to help emerging designers facing economic hardship. Today, it continues that legacy by equipping creators with the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive, globalized market.
The Road to November
The final award ceremony will take place in New York City on November 18, where the winner and runners-up will be officially announced. But win or lose, being named a finalist marks a pivotal milestone. These designers are not only shaping the future of fashion—they are redefining what it means to succeed in it.
Their collections are intimate, innovative, and deeply personal. More importantly, they represent a shift in the fashion world: away from mass production and toward conscious, expressive, independent design.
