As the winner for his Altuzarra brand, the designer was awarded $300,000 and Pamela Love and Creatures of the Wind designers Shane Gabier and Chris Peters were each awarded $100,000 as runners up. All of the winning designers will receive mentorship from industry leaders as part of the fund, which was set up by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue.
Altuzarra was up against some very stiff competition as this year’s finalists included Suno designers Erin Beatty and Max Osterweis, Carlos Campos, Antonio Azzuolo of A.A. Antonio Azzuolo, Cushnie et Ochs designers Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, Ohne Titel designers Alexa Adams and Flora Gill, Fenton/Fallon designer Dana Lorenz, and Soraya Silchenstedt of Finn Jewelry.
Winners were chosen by Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Mark Holgate, CFDA’s Diane von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb, Andrew Rosen from Theory, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler (former fund winners); Coach designer Reed Krakoff, J. Crew’s Jenna Lyons, and Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey and Nordstrom.
Altuzzara is a born and raised Parisian who worked at Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, and Givenchy, before branching out with his own line. Despite a lack of formal training, the talented designer has quickly made his mark and his shows are one of the hottest tickets during New York Fashion Week. Here’s a look at some of the designer’s most memorable Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 looks.
Image: style.com; Runway images: Imaxtree