NEW YORK—The Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA) announced today that there is a new working group within the Council, the Eyewear Designers of the CFDA. Created by 12 CFDA member eyewear designers, the group’s aim is “to inspire, empower, and promote awareness of eyewear design and the vitality of the optical industry through promotion, education, mentoring and collaborative initiatives.”

The Eyewear Designers of the CFDA are: Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi, L.A. Eyeworks; Blake Kuwahara, Focus Group West; Christian Roth, Optical Affairs; Daniel Silberman, Illesteva; Grant Krajecki and Natalie Levy of Grey Ant; Larry Leight, Oliver Peoples; Patty Perreira, Barton Perreira; Robert Marc, Robert Marc; Selima Salaun, Selima Optique; and Shane Baum, Leisure Society.

Christian Roth, Gai Gheradi, Selima Salaun and Blake Kuwahara will serve on the executive committee with Roth as the group’s spokesperson.

The group will focus on two specific areas, runway partnerships or ready to wear collaborations and a CFDA Press Day for Eyewear Designers, slated for 2015. In 2013, the CFDA held a Jewelry Designer Showcase for press and retailers.


The CFDA is establishing a new
Eyewear Designers group. Some of the initial members are (l to r) Christian Roth, Selima Salaun, Robert Marc,
Larry Leight, Gai Gherardi, Shane
Baum and Blake Kuwahara.

“The Eyewear Designers of the CFDA group is a great example of the power of the CFDA membership,” said Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA. “The formation of the Eyewear Designers of the CFDA gives credit to the important role that these designers play not only in the accessories space, but in the American Fashion Industry at large.”

Additionally, the Eyewear Designers of the CFDA will contribute to charitable efforts connected to the eyewear and fashion industry.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA), a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962, leads industrywide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 480 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA {Fashion Incubator}, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship.

In 2013, the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative was created to nurture, elevate and preserve garment production in New York City. Member support is provided through the Strategic Partnerships Group, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities. The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages the worldwide Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations with events such as Fashion’s Night Out and 7th on Sale and addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative.