CFDA Plans West Coast Focus
The Council of Fashion Designers of America is hosting an invitation-only meet-and-greet with Los Angeles designers at the Beverly Hills home of designer Diane von Furstenberg on May 5. The event will be the first of the New York–based trade organization’s outreach efforts to the West Coast.
“In recent years, there’s been a real critical mass of L.A.–based designers,” said Peter Arnold, CFDA’s executive director. “There’s a profound group of designers out there who are based there and not in New York, and they’re thriving.”
About 30 of CFDA’s 273 members are based on the West Coast. The 42-year-old nonprofit organization is perhaps best known for launching 7th on Sixth, the event featuring tented runway shows in Bryant Park that the organization sold to IMG in 2001. The group also hosts its annual star-studded CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the work of established designers as well as up-and-coming talent, including West Coast names such as Richard Tyler and Rick Owens.
Arnold said he is hoping the May 5 party will help spread the word about some of the CFDA’s other services and activities.
The organization’s philanthropic wing, the CFDA Foundation, raises funds for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Initiative helps people living with HIV and AIDS; and Fashion For America was formed with Vogue to help “restore consumer confidence and drive retail traffic” in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The CFDA offers professional development services, helping designers gather industry-specific information through networking, seminars and workshops. The organization provides day-to-day assistance to designers to help them grow their businesses, Arnold said, noting that this can range from helping with sourcing inquiries to finding key staffers to answering financing questions. In addition, the organization has a vast network of resources among members of the retail community and fashion press.
“We’re interested in seeing as many American designers succeed as possible,” Arnold said.
The group also awards scholarships and “Masters Program” internships to designers. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund provides resources and mentorships to up-and-coming fashion designers.A complete list of CFDA members and services is available on the organization’s Web site, www.cfda.com.
