CFDA+ and Eyes for Talents connect graduates to international brands

Any recent graduate from a fashion school will agree that transitioning from college to the working field is not always easy. Since 2013, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has tried to make the lives of the recent graduates easier by creating CFDA+: an awards programme which rewards the 54 most promising fashion graduates from across the globe. However, this year´s edition is unique as it is the first time CFDA+ is partnering with Eyes on Talents, an online platform which brings young designers and fashion brands together.

Students with 21 different nationalities were among this year´s CFDA+ graduates, and studied at sixteen different fashion schools. Parsons School of Design was especially well represented, as twelve CDFA+ graduates completed their studies here. Other schools which were included in the list of this year´s winners, included the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Central Saint Martins and the University of Westminster. All graduates were selected following a three-phase selection process which was guided by the CFDA. The graduates are all specialized in one of the following disciplines: womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, accessoiries, jewelry, textiles and knitwear. In total, CFDA received close to 200 applications for this year´s CFDA+.

All winning designers will have their work showcased on Eyes for Talents: the online platform which was co-founded by Floriane de Saint Pierre and enables fashion professionals to connect with brands. According to FIT, this offers both designers as well as brands the unique opportunity to meet like minded others from all corners of the world.

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