05 Aug Caleres and Saint Louis Fashion Fund Toast Emerging Designers in NYC
Caleres and Saint Louis Fashion Fund kicked off FFANY market week with a buzzed-about event at Sam Edelman’s new offices. The party was held to celebrate the six finalists in the running for the 2015 Caleres Emerging Designer Award.
The winner will be announced during Saint Louis Fashion Week in November and will receive a $25,000 cash grant to support his or her ongoing work.
“Some of the values we live by every day as a company include curiosity, creativity and passion,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, president and chairman of Caleres. “The emerging designer competition embodies those values, and we are always inspired by the designers that participate. Each year the bar is raised—we can’t wait to meet the candidates this year.”
Joining Sullivan for the event were Sam and Libby Edelman, Al Roker and his daughter Leila Roker, Fern Mallis, Derek Blasberg, Tomoko Ogura, Roopal Patel, Lisa Perr, Gary Wassner, Danielle Snyder and Timo Weiland.
Jurors for the award include James LaForce, CEO of pr firm LaForce + Stevens, Mallis, a fashion and design consultant, Barneys New York Fashion Director Tomoko Ogura, designer Lisa Perry, and Gary Wassner, co-CEO of Hilldun Corporation and Chairman of InterLuxe.Fashion consultant Roopal Patel of Roopal Patel Consulting assisted with the national search for designers.
“St. Louis has a storied history in the fashion industry with a garment district that was second only to New York. The Caleres Emerging Designer Award reignites that legacy by bringing new American talent here to launch their brands and highlight the opportunities that we offer to fashion entrepreneurs,” said Susan Sherman, chair of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund.
The finalists include Julie Haus and Jason Alkire of Haus Alkire, Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta of Eckhaus Latta, Azede Jean-Pierre, Katharine Polk of Houghton, Brandon Sun, and Jordana Warmflash of Novis.