CFDA

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA), is an integral element in the sustainability of the fashion industry. The organisation is committed to nurturing the development of the American fashion industry’s future designers through initiatives like the CFDA Fashion Awards, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship.

So before the awards and the nominations begin for another year, I thought I’d better cover, ‘what exactly is CFDA and why is it so important to the industry we love?’ Just to make sure we’re all on the same page!
The organisation’s website featured the most simplified description I could find…

“The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 400 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Scholarship Award, and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship. Member support is provided through the Business Services Network, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities.

The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations with 7th on Sale; addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative; and is a key participant in other programs such as the annual Fashion’s Night Out.”