The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which cultivates the next generation of American fashion talent, partners with Finfin Play AG, the creator behind the fashion styling- themed mobile game, The Fashion League, in honor of the Fund’s twentieth anniversary.

Select designs by the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists will be digitised

Slated to launch during New York Fashion Week in September 2024, select designs by the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists will be digitised, and they will compete in a series of challenges in a four-week in-game event. Regardless of size, gender or skin tone, the ten finalists will dress and style their avatars for participation in fashion challenges and collaborate with other players to expand their fashion empire. The 2024 Fashion Fund winner, to be announced in October, will receive a dedicated virtual store within the game to showcase additional runway looks.

Since the creation of the metaverse, and the subsequent collision of gaming, fashion and culture, it seems the digital space is the new normal. No longer does it seem experimental that our avatars are hanging out with friends, gaming or doing business in the metaverse. With its adaption and popularity, the digital fashion and gaming industries are poised to transform into a global powerhouse with key players from fashion leveraging its immense potential.

In recent news, The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which cultivates the next generation of American fashion talent, has collaborated with Finfin Play AG, the creator behind the fashion styling- themed mobile game, The Fashion League, in honor of the Fund’s twentieth anniversary.

The Fashion League combines fashion, inclusivity and e-commerce. This invaluable collaboration also underscores the gaming platform’s commitment to empower aspiring fashion designers by connecting them directly with a fashion-conscious audience, bringing them closer to their target market. The Fashion League also provides young designers with insights of, and hands-on engagement with, the gaming industry which they would not have had access to as a young fashion brand.

“Collaborating with Finfin Play on Fashion League allows us to showcase the incredible talent of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund designers in a new and innovative way, reaching a broader audience and engaging with fashion enthusiasts in the gaming community,” says CFDA CEO Steven Kolb. “And, as the Fund celebrates its 20th anniversary, this partnership honors the past while looking forward to the future of fashion.”

Additional initiatives that celebrate the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund’s twentieth anniversary include a limited-time event with alumni brands. A few Selection Committee members will also appear as non-player characters to enhance the storyline and narration of the event. In this way, the mobile game acts as a valuable platform for new talent to shine alongside fashion heavyweights.

“We’re thrilled to merge the physical world of fashion with the gaming universe through our partnership with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund,” Finfin Play AG Founder and CEO Theresia Le Battistini said. “This collaboration celebrates emerging talent and enables designers to connect with and understand their clients better through valuable data.”

Growing Intersection Of Gaming And Digital Fashion

The Fashion League is the latest in a series of fashion styling games and underscores the growing intersection of gaming and digital fashion in today’s cultural landscape. Per Fashion Value Chain, “According to the game developer, there were more than 3.38 billion gamers worldwide in 2023, and they brought in 187.7 billion US dollars in income. Furthermore, more than half of players would make in-game purchases, and players worldwide have spent more than 1 trillion hours playing games—more than on social media.”

The Fashion League is the latest in a series of fashion styling games and underscores the growing intersection of gaming and digital fashion in today’s cultural landscape.

Tommy Hilfiger’s Hilfiger Ventures recently introduced FashionVerse, a mobile game featuring avatars and high-quality fashion. In a similar vein, Kate Young, a prominent Hollywood stylist, joined digital fashion house Blueberry as a senior advisor, while supermodel Karlie Kloss launched her own fashion styling game, Fashion Klossette, on Roblox. Additionally, Drest, founded by former magazine editor Lucy Yeomans in 2019, is preparing for a comeback, bolstered by partnerships with fashion icons like Kate Moss, Irina Shayk, and Imaan Hammam.

CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue after 9/11 to help emerging fashion designers and cultivate the next generation of American fashion talent. Per the official website, ‘Since its inception, 189 designers have received mentoring and a total of more than $7.7 million in support. Of the designers who have gone through the program, 41 percent of brands are fully or partially women owned, and 40 percent are fully or partially minority owned.’ 

Per WWD, “Little did we know that when we launched the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund that one day we would be celebrating its 20th anniversary. That we can is due to the many wonderful designers who have taken part over the years — and we’re looking forward to welcoming those who will be our class of 2024,” said Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue. “The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has transformed the American fashion landscape with a significant focus on emerging designers and talent discovery,” said Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the CFDA. “Marking two decades of this groundbreaking initiative, we are looking forward to continue nurturing the future of the American fashion industry.”

Past finalists and winners include Billy Reid, Bode, Brock Collection, Christopher John Rogers, Jonathan Simkhai, Joseph Altuzarra, Melitta Baumeister, Proenza Schouler, Pyer Moss, Telfar, The Elder Statesman, and Sandy Liang. For the 2024 Vogue/Fashion Fund, the judges — Anna Wintour, Steven Kolb, Mark Holgate, Nichole Phelps, Aurora James, Roopal Patel, Eva Chen, Rickie de Sole, Paloma Elsesser, and Thom Browne — will select ten finalists, and the winner will receive $300,000 and the two runners-up will each receive $100,000. The winner and runners-up will each be paired with a mentor.