CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Video Series: Episode 1

By Lindsey Schickner 10/03/12 at 02:00 PM

Ten finalists were chosen out of hundreds and only one will win, with an opportunity to make it in the cut-throat world of fashion.

Nine years ago, the Council of Fashion Designers of America partnered with Vogue to create the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Established designers including Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Altuzarra have been past CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners, and their businesses have since skyrocketed to the top of the fashion playing field, where competition is fierce and opportunities are scarce.

Announced in July, this year’s group of contenders have so far been faced with a series of challenges weeding out the weaker links, where judges are as tough as they come, from Vogue’s Anna Wintour, J.Crew's Jenna Lyon, to CFDA president and designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Watch the first episode in the seven-part series above.