CFDA Brands Bring Excitement & Style to Los Angeles Fashion Week

Little Black Dresses from the CFDA showcase at W Hollywood.  (photo copyright M. Hall)

Last week, the CFDA Fashion Incubator  program bought a collection of exciting emerging designers to Los Angeles for  Los Angeles Market Week. The W Hotels Worldwide West Coast Showcase featured  10 CFDA {Fashion Incubator} brands, each with a unique perspective and style.  Some of the designers, like Project Runway’s  Daniel Vosovic will be familiar to fashion consumers, but others in the CFDA Incubator program are largely unknown to buyers. The designers, who will graduate from the two-year program at the end of March, were hosted in Los Angeles for four days by W Hotels and participated in various Professional Development activities organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.  They were treated to a private tour with Diane von Furstenberg of “Journey of a Dress” at LACMA, brunch with LA-based jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth and a studio tour with Band of Outsiders’ Scott Sternberg. Doesn’t that sound like a terrible way to spend a week in Los Angeles? 🙂 

Midnight Blue Cocktail dresses from the CFDA presentation  ( Photo @ M. Hall) 

Following the showcase,  I was pleased to attend the celebratory cocktail party hosted by W Hotel Hollywood to toast the designers’ success.  In addition to fashion bloggers like Michelle  from Fashion Trends Daily, Rachael from Everything Hauler, Kristi of Currently Crushing and of course yours truly at The Recessionista, fashionable attendees included: boutique owner Elyse Walker, Vogue’s Lauren Howell, jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth,  Cameron Silver and David Burka.  I had a great time at the party viewing designs from the West Coast CFDA designers and mingling with fashionistas.  Big props to the W Hotels for supporting emerging designers by allowing them a platform to broaden and grow their businesses.  It’s very difficult for young designers to launch a fashion line and it’s very, very expensive so it’s great that W Hotels is willing to help introduce these emerging designers to influential buyers, retailers, media, and our fashion loving guests (like moi) around world.

A view of the CFDA presentation from Jonathan Simkhai at the W Poolside Los Angeles,  Photo: M.Hall

Ari Dein’s amazing pajamas and lingerie at the CFDA party at W Hollywood via the Magenta Agency’s Instagram

The 2012-2014 CFDA Fashion Incubator Designers are:
• Ari Dein Pajamas have never looked so good!  Ari Dein designs fine lingerie and sleepwear, all handmade in New York City
• Burkman Bros Updated classic menswear from two Canadian designers who are brothers.
• Daniel Vosovic  The Project Runway winner’s collections utilize original photographic digital prints and unexpected fabrications.  Styles are simple and sophisticated.  The collection he showed at LA Market Week featured prints,  separates and streamlined dresses.
• Emanuela Duca fine jewelry inspired by the designer’s native Italy and her new home in New York City.
• Isaora High-tech looking menswear with “state of the art construction.”
• Jonathan Simkhai Sophisticated womenswear influenced by men’s fashion using fabrics like cashmere, wool, cotton and silk.

Selected looks from Number:Lab’s FW 14 collection presentation at the W Hotel Hollywood for CFDA market week. (Photo via Number:Lab)

• NUMBER:Lab  Athletic menswear for  Fall 2014.
•  Reece Hudson: Stunning handbags and clutches.

A look at designer Timo Weiland ‘s collection at the CFDA W Presentation,           Photo: M. Hall

• Timo Weiland  Black and white graphic prints were part of this brand’s Fall 2014 collection.

• Whit Designer Whitney Pozgay showed a whimsical collection of prints  depicting everything from cows to ink blots. The Fall 14 collection features shirtdresses, skirts, tops and jackets.