IN IT TO WIN IT: A fresh batch of aspiring designers are within the running for one among fashion’s more coveted prizes.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue have announced this yr’s contenders for the 2023 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The winner will receive $300,000 and two runners-up will go home with $100,000 each. The aim for all is to realize the constructing blocks which are crucial to create a viable and long-lasting business.

The finalists this time around are: Angelo Fabricio Urrutia of 4SDesigns, Colin LoCascio, Rachel Scott of Diotima, Kim Shui, Kozaburo Akasaka of Kozaburo, Melitta Baumeister, Sami Miro of Sami Miro Vintage, Fletcher Kasell and Tanner Richie of Tanner Fletcher, Everard Best and Téla D’Amore of Who Decides War, and Henry Zankov of Zankov. 

The CFDA’s chairman Thom Browne, who continues to design his eponymous label, said, “It’s so necessary that the world sees this latest generation of American designers…the talent in america is unparalleled with reference to creativity and variety and, furthermore, truly American…the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund shines a vital and generous light on this.” 

“Every yr I’m astounded by how much talent we’ve got on this country, with designers who’re as wildly creative as they’re sensitive to the world today. They’re not only imaginative, but they strive to be thought leaders and community creators, reminding us that fashion will be meaningful to everyone,” Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast, and global editorial director of Vogue, said.

The fund was established following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in Latest York in 2001 to help emerging designers and to cultivate the following generation of American designers. The 2023 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is supported by Afterpay, Instagram, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Vogue. Along with Wintour and Browne, this yr’s selection committee includes the CFDA’s Steven Kolb, Vogue’s Mark Holgate and Chioma Nnadi, Brother Vellies’ and the Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Aurora James, Saks Fifth Avenue’s Roopal Patel, Instagram’s Eva Chen, Nordstrom’s Sam Lobban, model and activist Paloma Elsesser, and Afterpay’s and The Next Generation’s Nick Molnar. — ROSEMARY FEITELBERG

BEAUTY WATCH: Beauty has a latest megawatt entrant — Beyoncé.

The winner of 32 Grammys took to Instagram Tuesday night to announce her latest enterprise, which appears to be a hair care brand. 

“How lots of y’all knew my first job was sweeping hair in my mama’s salon? Destiny’s Child got our start by performing for clients while they were getting their hair done. I used to be exposed to so many various sorts of entrepreneurial women in her salon,” the Instagram post read. “I saw firsthand how the ways we nurture and have fun hair can directly impact our souls. I watched her heal and be of service to so many ladies. Having learned a lot on my hair journey, I’ve all the time dreamed of carrying on her legacy I can’t wait so that you can experience what I’ve been creating.”

Sources tell WWD that the brand is helmed by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, and can be developing fragrances. The brand’s name and launch timing couldn’t be learned. A spokesperson for Beyoncé didn’t return a request for comment by press time.

Though many celebrities have entered beauty lately, sources are bullish on Beyoncé’s business prospects. “I mean, she is the most important, and her mom had a salon. It can be authentic. It’s going to be huge if she has science behind it,” one source said. “They’re laying the inspiration, they’re increase the hype. It’s getting more press than God and who even knows when it’s coming out.”

Many celebrities have tried their hand in the sweetness industry, and a number of other have found it lucrative: Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, for instance, brought in 600 million euros in its first yr in the marketplace. — JAMES MANSO

STAR SHOTS: Plainly there’s no one which British fashion photographer Rankin hasn’t captured — Queen Elizabeth II, Vivienne Westwood and Kate Moss are but a couple of stars which have stood in front of his lens.

Now, the artist’s work might be celebrated on the Ernst Leitz Museum in Germany, in an exhibition titled “Rankin: Zeisprünge (Leaps in time)” from May 26 to Sept. 27. 

The exhibition, which can include portraits spanning Rankin’s three-decade long profession in addition to unpublished images from 2023, encourages a conversation between motifs from the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s and today. 

Accompanying the exhibition is a stand-alone collector’s edition of Hunger magazine, a publication Rankin founded in 2011, which can feature stars corresponding to Lily Allen, Stefflon Don, the Sugababes, Will Poulter, Rachel Weisz and Eddie Marsan.

This exhibit comes almost a yr after the photographer and publisher helped to lift greater than 5,000 kilos for The Legacy of War Foundation for Ukraine during a special exhibition called “Visual Noise,” the primary art fair dedicated solely to the U.K.’s emerging photography talent.

Rankin invited 40 graduate photographers from Central Saint Martins, London College of Communication, Goldsmiths and the London College of Fashion to exhibit photographs that they had taken during their studies.

Rankin was born in Scotland in 1966. After graduating from the London College of Printing, Rankin went on to found magazine Dazed & Confused and Dazed Film & TV Agency in 1999 with Jefferson Hack.

Along with his extensive work in fashion photography, Rankin went on to release a string of publications, including Rank, published in 2000, and later Hunger magazine. — VIOLET GOLDSTONE

FATHER OF THE YEAR: Jeff Gennette will soon have rather a lot more time to spend together with his daughter Jude — but he’s done a reasonably good job up until now.

Gennette’s parenting skills might be recognized next month when the chief executive officer of Macy’s, who has announced that he’ll exit that role next February, might be named a Father of the 12 months by the National Father’s Day Council.

Gennette and his husband Geoff Welch, a retired graphics producer, might be honored together with actor Matthew Broderick and Michael Kay, Yes Network’s Latest York Yankees broadcaster, host of the Yes’ “CenterStage” interview show, cohost of “The Michael Kay Show” radio show and cohost with Alex Rodriguez of “KayRod Solid” for Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN.

The 81st annual Father of the 12 months Awards might be held on the Sheraton Latest York Times Square Hotel and the event will profit Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and Advocacy, which works to interrupt the cycle of poverty for rural American children most vulnerable to educational and food inequities by providing early learning and other support.

This yr’s awards might be hosted by Nate Burleson, cohost of “CBS Mornings” and analyst for CBS Sports’ “The NFL Today” show.

“Annually we get the prospect to honor hardworking and passionate fathers who’re committed to creating change of their industries and communities,” said Dan Orwig, president and chief executive officer of The Father’s Day/Mother’s Day Council. “We’re thrilled to honor 4 such inspirational dads this yr who’re so well-respected of their roles and have an unwavering commitment to their families and philanthropic efforts.”

Thus far, the council has donated greater than $30 million to family-related charities nationwide. — JEAN E. PALMIERI

SUSTAINABLE SHOP: Accessories brand Sandqvist has relaunched its Soho flagship, redesigning the space to pay homage to its Nordic heritage in partnership with artist Emmely Elgersma.

The shop, which features 99 percent upcycled material, is accented by vibrant pieces of furniture and interior details crafted by Elgersma, who was formally trained as a ceramicist and has previously worked with Ikea, Adidas, TikTok, Paynter Jacket and Clerkenwell Design Week.

“The more digital our world becomes and the more technical products we produce, our stores turn out to be much more necessary. We would like our customers to make conscious selections and our products to remain relevant for so long as possible,” said Sebastian Westin, the brand’s cofounder.

The rollout of updated stores comes on the heels of Sandqvist introducing a 30-hour, four-day work week for full-time employees at the tip of February. The accessories brand announced the choice after reporting a 20 percent turnover increase at the tip of 2022.

“With the ability to give our employees the chance to work even smarter, to give you the option to have more meaningful free time with more time for themselves and their relationships, feels each nice and exciting,” said Caroline Lind, chief executive officer of Sandqvist.

The Stockholm-based accessories company, founded in 2004 by Sebastian Westin and brothers Anton and Daniel Sandqvist, focuses on sustainably made bags for work, adventure, and every part in between. 

In 2020, Sandqvist was featured within the Swedish Design Museum’s first takeout design exhibit, where visitors could reserve and use Sandqvist backpacks for per week across the 4 corners of the country. —V.G.