Banana Republic collaborates with CFDA to support emerging designers

Banana Republic and the Council of Fashion Designers of America are collaborating to support emerging designers in the U.S. with domestic design and production. The partnership will involve a capsule collection from two limited-edition collections designed by designers from New York and Los Angeles that will be sold at select Banana Republic flagships and online.

Timo Weiland, a New York-based designer and a CFDA Fashion Incubator program alumnus, will create a 12 piece capsule collection of dresses, tops, skirts, and blazers that will be cut and sewn in New York by Sunrise Studio and Sn productions. The Los Angeles-based designer who will receive Banana Republic's support has not been selected yet. Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA, told WWD the program will “help promote designers here in America and domestic manufacturing.”

As part of Banana Republic's partnership with the CFDA, Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI) will receive a monetary contribution that will be matched NYC's commitment to the program. FMI is committed to nurturing garment production in the city.

Weiland, who founded his brand in 2010 with partners Alan Eckstein and Donna Kang, told WWD that “Donna, Alan and I are honored to collaborate on the first CFDA by Banana Republic capsule collection for spring 2016. Since launching the brand, we have designed, cut and sewn our core signature woven styles in New York with factory partners based in the Garment District. Building upon this Made-in-New York aspect has been an integral part of our business and our story as a brand.” The capsule collection will debut at NYFW during Banana Republic's spring presentation and launch at retail in March.