On February 6, Genesis and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced Terrence Zhou, designer of Bad Binch TongTong, as the winner of the third “CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant.”
Supporting Cultural Identity
The grant is a program that supports the creativity and cultural perspectives of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) designers. In addition to financial assistance, it promotes the exploration of cultural identity in contemporary design through mentorship and presentation opportunities.
The finalists included Allina Liu, Kim Shui, and Zhou. The three designers presented collections created throughout the program period at a private event held at Genesis House in New York.
A Collection Inspired by the PanGu Creation Myth
Winner Terrence Zhou was born in Wuhan, China, and after studying mathematics and engineering, went on to attend the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York, graduating in 2020. The label he launched immediately after graduation has garnered attention for its innovative sculptural silhouettes and emotionally expressive forms, establishing an international presence despite his young career.
The winning collection draws inspiration from the PanGu creation myth, with each sculptural piece tracing a journey from origin to transformation to forward motion. From a wearable interpretation of the Korean moon jar to a bloom of contrasting colors that captures emergence in motion, to garments shaped through industrial prototyping, the collection fuses tradition and innovation, turning cultural lineage into forward-looking design.
Upon receiving the award, Zhou stated, “I’m deeply honored to be selected as a CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant recipient. This program affirms my belief that innovation is not about replacing heritage, but allowing it to evolve—holding tradition in a state of becoming while imagining new futures through design.”
Each designer was provided with $40,000 in collection development funding from Genesis, as well as access to mentors and advisors in fashion, technology, and business. During the five-month program period, they visited Seoul, South Korea, for an immersive experience engaging with cultural backgrounds and values, which became a significant source of inspiration for the final collections.
$100,000 in Total Support and Exhibition Details
On the day of the event, attendees had the opportunity to view the completed collections and hear directly from each designer about their creative process and cultural narratives. Zhou was awarded an additional $60,000 as the winner, bringing the total support through the grant to $100,000.
Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America, commented, “It has been inspiring to witness the creativity and cultural perspective each designer brought to this program. Over the past several months, the finalists transformed personal heritage into thoughtful collections, and we are proud to support their ongoing growth within the fashion industry.”
Steven Kolb, CEO and President of CFDA, stated, “We are proud to celebrate Allina, Kim, and Terrence, who each brought forward strong creative identities and thoughtful perspectives that define the purpose of this grant. Their work sets an inspiring tone ahead of New York Fashion Week.”
Genesis House as a Hub for Expression
Genesis House is a lifestyle space located in the heart of New York’s Meatpacking District. It offers experiences inspired by Korean culture, community, food, architecture, and technology, comprising a showroom, restaurant, and cellar stage. The space is positioned as an embodiment of Genesis’s brand philosophy through bold design, advanced functionality, and Korean aesthetic sensibility.
The collections presented will be on display at Genesis House through February 22.
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