Obando Nominated for CFDA Award
Los Angeles–based designer Juan Carlos Obando is among the finalists for the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America’s “CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund” award.
The program, which was developed to financially support the next generation of American designers, gives $200,000 to the winning designer as well as business mentoring and priceless exposure. Two runners-up receive $50,000 each. The other nominees for the 2008 award are Albert Q. Swanepoel of Albert Quartus, Alejandro Ingelmo, Alexander Wang, Irene Neurwirth, Jason Wu, Swaim and Christina Hutson of Obedient Sons and Daughters, John Patrick of Organic, Richard Chai, and Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava.
The awards will be presented on Nov. 17 at a private dinner in New York.
Obando made waves in the Los Angeles fashion community when he presented his first collection on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., in October 2004.
In February, the Colombian-born Obando earned raves for his super hero–inspired presentation during New York Fashion Week. The self-taught designer, who moonlights as a creative director for an advertising agency, won the Los Angeles Fashion Awards’ “Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award” in November. —Erin Barajas
