NEW YORK—The Accessories Council and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)  partnered in 2017 to create the Elaine Gold Launch Pad, a four-year partnership underwritten by a $1.5 million donation to the CFDA Foundation. The program focuses on helping early emerging designers (in business from 0 to 3 years) launch their careers in apparel, accessories, jewelry or materiality. Late last month, the program concluded with a final presentation at NeueHouse in New York. The inaugural group was asked to develop a 360 design x business view into the future. With so much change taking place in the fashion system, each of the participants were also asked to blueprint viable strategies that include new thinking about how they make, sell, value, and tell the story of their vision as well as how their ventures contribute to the ecosystem of fashion and finally, the Launch Pad’s program pillars—innovation, technology and sustainability.

Based on the presentations, $90,000 was awarded. Combined with an earlier milestone, this brought the total award of the inaugural edition to $175,000, based on the criteria of vision, potential and viability. The six selected brands took part in a six-month virtual residency. The program encouraged focus on holistic design and business innovation, sustainability, and technology—integrated into product, service and systems into their business models. Practical business and professional development included a range of areas including brand strategy, finance, value chain, production, retail/commerce and strategic planning.

Among the award recipients were Genusee Eyewear, who received $20,000 for their plan to launch eyewear based on sustainable materials. Genusee participants included Ali Rose, Jack Burns and Mark Richardson. The company is planning to launch a Kickstarter campaign later this spring. Also awarded funds were FFORA, $40,000 (for accessories innovation); Bode New York, who received $10,000 for their menswear concept; Jahnkoy, who received $10,000 for menswear and womenswear, Khiry, who got $5,000 for jewelry and Alexis Isabel, who received $5,000 for footwear.

The Final Selection Committee included: Karen Giberson, Accessories Council; Steven Kolb, CFDA; Sara Kozlowski, CFDA; Leila Larijani, UBS; Bruce Pask, Bergdorf Goodman; Kate Daly, Closed Loop Partners; Matt Scanlan, Soft Matter; Melanie Steiner, PVH Corp.; and Richard Lambertson, Shinola.

The Advisory Board includes: Brad Schmidt, Cadet; Carly-Ann Fergus, XRC Labs; Colette Malouf, Fabio Silva, FRSILVA LAW; Greg Armas, Assembly New York; Jake Sargent, Soft Matter Ventures; John Jones, Fjord; Karen Giberson, Accessories Council; Keanan Duffty, Polimoda; Leila Larijani,UBS; Lisa Smilor, CFDA; Marshall Cheek, Tory Burch, Rebecca Minkoff, Sara Kozlowski, CFDA; Sarah Blair, Barneys New York; Sebastien Park, IDEO; and Steven Kolb, CFDA.