Introducing the 2014 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists Inline
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson1/10Natalie Levy & Grant Krajecki, Grey Ant
Hometown: Los Angeles (Levy), Chicago (Krajecki)
Home base: New York City
Our sunglasses collectsion in our own words: “Innovative, sometimes whimsical.” –Levy
“Sophisticated, minimal. Modern.” –KrajeckiWhat we’re looking forward to: Everything’s been a lot of work, but it’s been fun so far. This presentation was the most nerve-racking, but we’re looking forward to all of it.
What will be the biggest challenge: The one we just did!
How we celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: Says Levy: “After we got over the initial shock, I just went home and he went out to dinner with his friends. I’m pregnant, so my social life is on hiatus. This actually came at a perfect time because I can’t do anything except work and rest.”
Editor’s note: Levy started as Krajecki’s intern; three years later, she was a partner in the company.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson2/10Gigi Burris, Gigi Burris
Hometown: Lakeland, Florida
Home base: New York City
My hat collectsion in my own words: Feminine, modern, and a little bit subversive.
What I’m looking forward to: I’m really looking forward to growing in this process, understanding who I am as a brand and designer through the challenges, and getting to know all of the amazing judges.
What will be the biggest challenge: Having the time to run my business in addition to putting in the time that is needed for this process!
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: I went to my dear friend’s house with my boyfriend. We ordered sushi and had champagne. I almost immediately went on Vogue.com to watch the videos of the previous finalists.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson3/10Wes Gordon, Wes Gordon
Hometown: Atlanta
Home base: New York City
My women’s collectsion in my own words: Femininity, modernity, and refinement with ease.
What I’m looking forward to: The competition challenges. They are fun and exciting projects.
What will be the biggest challenge: I think that because it is my second time, I have to show how I’ve grown over the past two years every step of the way. I have to push myself even further to show the progress I’ve made.
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: It was the same night as my birthday party, so it was really fun.
Editor’s note: Gordon’s designs have been worn by at least seven different Vogue cover subjects: Gwyneth Paltrow, Lena Dunham, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Emma Watson, and Kim Kardashian.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson4/10Eva Zuckerman, Eva Fehren
Hometown: New York City
Home base: New York City
My fine-jewelry collectsion in my own words: Geometric and strong. I try to create pieces that feel balanced and always classic with a little bit of edge—timeless and tough.
What I’m looking forward to: I feel like I’ve been focusing more on one-of-a-kind pieces, and it’s gotten me really excited and passionate about jewelry and has sort of revitalized me in a way. Also, I’m working on some new pieces to show in September which are tough and severe, which is my favorite thing.
What will be the biggest challenge: My biggest challenge in life is balance. Running my business and participating in this competition is my biggest challenge right now. I’m lucky that I have a business partner who can keep the wheels in motion. Also, my nerves: This is definitely a very intimidating experience. I’ve had to practice staying true to myself, staying calm, and communicating the message of my brand.
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: I went out with Ryan Roche and had a drink!
Editor’s note: Zuckerman used to work at Ryan Roche’s children’s store in Williamsburg, where she would make jewelry behind the counter.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson5/10Matt Orley, Alex Orley and Samantha Florence, Orley
Hometown: Outside of Detroit (the Orleys) and Toronto (Florence)
Home base: New York City
Our men’s collectsion in our own words: Classic menswear rooted in knitwear but subverted with stitch techniques that we develop ourselves and a sophisticated color palette.
What we’re looking forward to: Making friends!
What will be the biggest challenge: Getting along. And running our business at the same time.
How we celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: We took our intern across the street and ordered a giant bottle of champagne . . . at 10:00 a.m. And then we gave her the rest of the day off.
Editor’s note: Orley is a family affair: Matt and Alex are brothers, Samantha and Matt are married.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson6/10Ryan Roche, Ryan Roche
Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho
Home base: Hurley, New York
My women’s collectsion in my own words: I would describe it as a modern, minimal collectsion, pared-back in style with muted tones.
What I’m looking forward to: Just getting to this point was such a huge surprise and so incredible, and now that I’m here, I really want to win! [Laughs] It would revolutionize my business right now. The timing of it couldn’t be any better. And it’s come to the point where I’m growing so much it would really change everything.
What will be the biggest challenge: I’m a one-woman show, and even in the last two weeks, press pulls have increased 1,000 percent, which is amazing. I want to make sure I’m making the most of everything, but because I’m just one person, the challenge will be to do everything and do everything well without letting anything fall through the cracks.
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: With a big glass of wine and a huge hug and kiss from my family.
Editor’s note: Roche had a children’s clothing line and store in Williamsburg called Mor Mor Rita.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson7/10Brett Heyman, Edie Parker
Hometown: Born in New York, but moved to Los Angeles when she was ten.
Home base: New York City
My handbag collectsion in my own words: Timeless, versatile, and fun.
What I’m looking forward to: We’re launching a lot of new silhouettes and fabrications for spring.
What will be the biggest challenge: Figuring out when to expand into new product layers and how.
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: Got to work on this presentation, and it was thrilling!
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson8/10Paul Andrew, Paul Andrew
Hometown: London
Home base: New York City
My shoe collectsion in my own words: “Elegant,” which speaks to the refinement and handmade quality of the shoes, “chic” because they have a modern silhouette-type edge to them, and “joyful” because there is this element of fun, and I like the idea of making a woman feel good and transporting her out of her normal life and into some fantasy world.
What I’m looking forward to: I’m going on vacation in a few weeks. As for the competition, I’m looking forward to all different aspects such as the ad-campaign challenge.
What will be the biggest challenge: Managing the workload. I freelance design shoes for a lot of different companies because my business is 100 percent self-financed, so it’s a lot of work being involved in the fashion fund. Simultaneously, it’s very enjoyable, enriching, enlightening, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: A quiet dinner with my partner and champagne.
Editor’s note: The son of the **Queen Elizabeth II’**s upholsterer, Andrew cites his love of textiles from watching his father experiment with different fabrics.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson9/10Daniel Corrigan and Jake Sargent, Simon Miller
Hometown: Seattle (Corrigan); San Francisco (Sargent)
Home base: Los Angeles and New York City. We do the production, development, and manufacturing in Los Angeles, and the press and sales is in New York.
Our ready-to-wear collectsion in our own words: It is an indigo-based staples collectsion that really utilizes artisanal manufacturing, hand indigo-dyeing, and unique Japanese textiles.
What we’re looking forward to: We are so passionate about indigo; it’s great to have this grand stage to showcase it.
What will be the biggest challenge: Getting the women’s spring 2014 collectsion together. I think us really envisioning our women’s collectsion is going to be a huge part of our business and brand. Luckily, we can borrow a lot of reference from our men’s line, but women’s is going to be a challenge.
How we celebrated being named a CVFF finalist: Says Daniel: “I took a red-eye in from Los Angeles that day. I got in, found out, went to the event, and then I ended up just going out until my flight left at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, so I stayed up for two days straight.”
Editor’s note: Simon Miller began as a denim-focused menswear brand and is newly branching out into womenswear.
Photographed by Jeff Henrikson10/10Tanya Taylor, Tanya Taylor
Hometown: Toronto
Home base: New York City
My women’s collectsion in my own words: Very energetic, colorful, full of print. Very feminine.
What I’m looking forward to: I’m most looking forward to learning: It’s only been two weeks, and I’ve already learned more about myself than I have in three years of running this company. I can’t wait for the next four months.
What will be the biggest challenge: Articulating what I’m creatively thinking.
How I celebrated being named a CVFF finalist:
I had just been in Alaska with my husband on a family cruise before I flew back to New York to get the call, so I was desperately trying to contact my husband. Later that night, my girlfriends came over with pictures of all the judges that said “Congratulations!” all over them.Editor’s note: Michelle Obama wore one of Taylor’s designs to a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in June.
