Swarovski, which has collaborated on the CFDA Fashion Awards for the past 15 years, has revealed a new mentorship program for emerging designers.
The CFDA Swarovski Emerging Talent Award Mentorship Program is created in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. To enhance the support given annually to the three Swarovski Award winners, they will be offered a series of research and innovation trips and a chance to foster global relationships with fellow designers.
The program, which will be unveiled at the CFDA Fashion Awards Monday night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, features an international focus on marketing strategy, sales and retail and local partner production. In addition, Swarovski and the CFDA will link each Swarovski Award winner with a mutually chosen mentor for a one-on-one mentorship session and offer support throughout the year.
The program begins with a trip for the winners to Swarovski’s headquarters in Wattens, Austria, that is focused on research, innovations and business development, as well as the opportunity to explore Swarovski’s extensive archives.
Previously winners have received crystal worth 10,000 euro or $11,339.5 at the current exchange, as well as financial support. They will continue to receive this as in past years, along with the new programming.
“Supporting emerging designers is deeply embedded in the DNA of Swarovski, so it is a pleasure to evolve our relationship with the CFDA Fashion Awards this year with this expanded mentorship program,” said Nadja Swarovski, member of the Swarovski executive board. She praised the opportunity to stimulate new conversations and collaborations between the designers.
The nominees for the 2016 CFDA Swarovski Awards for Emerging Talent this year in women’s wear are Brandon Maxwell, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia for Monse, and Ryan Roche. For men’s wear, the nominees are John Elliott, Rio Uribe for Gypsy Sport and Alex Orley, Matthew Orley and Samantha Orley for Orley. Aurora James for Brother Vellies, Gigi Burris and Paul Andrew will vie for the Accessory Design award.