On August 14, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced a partnership with the Paul Smith’s Foundation to offer one emerging American designer a unique year-long creative opportunity in London. The recipient will join the second-year cohort of the Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield, working alongside six UK-based designers.
The selected designer will receive a complimentary 400-square-foot studio space for 12 months supported by Projekt, along with mentoring from industry leaders, business-planning training, visa and travel support, and a substantial contribution toward living expenses.
Applications open on August 14, with final selections taking place in September in New York City. The judging panel will include Paul Smith, CFDA CEO and President Steven Kolb, and CFDA Vice President of Program Strategies / Education & Sustainability Initiatives Sara Kozlowski, who will select the recipient from the shortlist.
At a time when funding for the arts and access to education are in decline, this partnership aims to give talented designers the resources to build sustainable businesses and long-term careers.
“Partnering with the CFDA to have this opportunity to have an American based designer join the Fashion Residency is delightful and hopefully it will be a life changing experience for them,” said Smith. “We formalized the Paul Smith’s Foundation a few years ago but I have been told quite flatteringly we’ve been running one for years without realizing it!”
Kolb added, “Fashion is a truly global business, and an opportunity such as this will provide one American talent with invaluable experience and exposure in an international market. The chance to work alongside peers in the UK fosters creative exchange, builds cross-cultural understanding, and strengthens our industry as a whole.”
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