Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation (EDFF) Feburary 15th Show A Huge Success for These Up and Coming Designers: Whom You Know Loved the Show and We Can't Wait to Review the Wine!

Ecco Domani^® Wines of Italy has announced the recipients of the 2010 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation (EDFF) awards: Altuzarra, The Blonds, Prabal Gurung, and Salvor Projects in the women’s design category; Siki Im in the men’s design category; Prova in the accessories category; and Organic in the sustainable design category. The talented group of emerging fashion designers each received a $25,000 grant to help showcase their collections on fashion’s biggest stage, New York Fashion Week.   

Yesterday, Whom You Know got a glimpse at some budding future stars of the fashion world at the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation (EDFF)'s presentation at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's Fall 2010 Collections at the Bryant Park tents.  A perfect example of how the world of high fashion and the world of wines are perfectly enmeshed in Italian culture, Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation is in its 9th season of supporting the careers of emerging fashion designers, each year culminating in a competition in which entrants who have been in the design business for no longer than 5 years and have a minimum of 1 retail account can compete for one of 7 coveted spots, each with a $25,000 grant, to create a fashion show in which their designs get showcased during New York Fashion Week in February.  This year's winners featured the likes of The Blonds, Prova, Prabal Gurung, Siki Im, Altuzarra, Salvor and Organic.  All the designs were exciting and fresh, a particular favorite of Whom You Know is The Blonds, their Swarovski crystals and metallic-swathed dresses lent a sparkle and radiance that we so need in fashion during these trying times when things have been toned down to a more basic and staid quality.  And lending some star power to the show, we spotted the likes of AnnaLynne McCord, Kelly Rutherford, Molly Sims and Kate Walsh sitting together in the front row.  Whom You Know can't wait to see what the future holds for these bright up and coming fashion designers of tomorrow!

Going into its ninth season, Ecco Domani Wines of Italy has donated over $1 Million in support of emerging designers, and has helped to launch the careers of many of today’s biggest fashion stars including: Zac Posen, Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som, Rodarte, Vena Cava, and Alexander Wang.  

“As a brand that embraces a heritage of innovation in wine and fashion, Ecco Domani is proud to recognize this year’s EDFF award recipients who are making their mark on today’s fashion industry,” said Molly Davis, Marketing Director for Ecco Domani wines. “We understand the challenges emerging designers face today and we are excited to help them launch their careers and take the next step towards success.”  

In addition to each designer’s individual Fashion Week presentations, this year’s award recipients will be given the unique opportunity to participate in the first-ever joint EDFF runway show. Taking place at the Bryant Park tents on February 15, 2010, the large-scale event will showcase looks from each of the seven winners’ collections. Footage from this year’s program will also be featured in a special half-hour documentary highlighting the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation and 2010 winners, and will air on the Lifetime Network and Lifetime Real Women this March.  

“In this still-shaky economy, cutbacks are common.  However, this is not so with Ecco Domani Wines of Italy, who this season not only continued their nine-year commitment to support emerging designers, but have now passed the $1 million mark in their award grants,” said Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation judge Marylou Luther, editor at The International Fashion Syndicate. “Here's a big saluté for investing in fashion's future!” 

More about the designers: 

• ALTUZARRA: Joseph Altuzarra was born and raised in Paris, and after graduating high school, attended Swarthmore College in Philadelphia, where he completed a B.A. in Art and Art History, with a focus on fashion and architecture. He honed his fashion skills working with some of the industry’s biggest names including Marc Jacobs, Givenchy and Proenza Schouler. Joseph launched his eponymous brand ALTUZARRA in 2008 with the desire to provide a contemporary and practical wardrobe for the modern professional woman. The ALTUZARRA identity lies somewhere between the legacy of French couture and New York’s pulsating energy.
• THE BLONDS: Originally from Key West, Florida, David Trujillo studied Fashion Merchandising and Design at the International Fine Arts College in Miami then went on to design windows and interiors for high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City, Phillipe Rollano, studied at The Fashion Institute of Technology before working as a freelance illustrator and make up artist for MAC. The two met in New York City and soon realized they shared similar views and aspirations regarding fashion. They officially launched “The Blond Collection” in 2007 as a line that tests the boundaries between fashion and art. It is their goal to not only provide an interesting and practical way to dress, but to provide an escape, intrigue and sometimes entertainment. Their innovative creations have been worn by some of Hollywood’s most renowned fashionistas.
• PRABAL GURUNG: Born and raised in Singapore, Prabal Gurung studied at New Delhi’s National Institute of Fashion Technology during which he apprenticed at several top fashion houses, including Manish Arora. After working with designers across Europe, Gurung moved to New York City in 1999 where he interned with Donna Karan while attending the Parsons School of Design. Following Parsons, Gurung gained insight into both the design and business sides of the industry while working at Cynthia Rowley. Soon after, he became the design director at Bill Blass. After five successful years, Gurung left Blass to launch his own collection, PRABAL GURUNG, in 2009. His clothes fuse an old-world technique with cutting-edge modernity to create a daring yet timeless collection that has already made an indelible mark on the world of fashion.  
• SALVOR PROJECTS: Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Ross Menuez received his BFA in Sculpture from Hunter College. During his eclectic career Menuez has done everything from building houses in Nicaragua to running a metal studio in Brooklyn to designing furniture and interiors in London and Tokyo. Upon returning to New York in 2005, he launched Salvor Projects as a way to turn his focus to two-dimensional work and graphic textile experiments. With his background in industrial design and metalworking, Menuez’ work comes from graphic experiments and playing with form directly versus developing the collection based on ideas of fashion or fashion history.
• SIKI IM: Born and raised in Cologne, Germany, Siki Im began his career in the field of architecture. He graduated with First Class Honors from Great Britain’s Oxford School of Architecture. After working as an architect in cities around the world, Siki Im moved to New York City in 2001 where he joined the progressive architecture firm, Architectonics. After numerous projects, he soon realized a deep appreciation for fashion design. Im moved on to work at top fashion houses including Karl Lagerfeld and Helmut Lang. He then brought his knowledge of architecture, graphics, art, and music, and manifested it into fabrics and shapes to create his eponymous collection in 2009. Siki Im explores the boundaries of institutional and conventional fashion and craftsmanship and strives to reevaluate the existing landscape of high-end men’s wear. 
• PROVA: Jewelry designer Irini Arakas founded PROVA in May 2005 while working as a fashion writer at American Vogue. Following rave reviews from the retail industry for her initial collections, Arakas left Vogue to focus her energy on building the PROVA label. PROVA, which means “to try” in Greek, is a collection of hand-made jewelry and scarves created in New York City’s garment district. Arakas feels that her designs are unique because of the way she brings together disparate elements in surprising and creative ways.
• ORGANIC: John Patrick is one of the pioneers of “green” fashion and designs his Organic Collection with a vision of raising the profile of the sustainable areas of the industry. Early in his career, Patrick traveled to Peru to learn more about the way cotton is grown and the production of hand-spun alpaca wool. He has since been working with local cotton growers and fabric mills all over the world that are converting to organic and sustainable production and was one of the first designers to develop a direct relationship with organic farm collectives in Peru. In 2007, John Patrick launched the Organic Collection designing looks for both men and women. He has since helped to increase the use of botanical dyes, recycled fabrics and organic wool yarns and has resurrected traditional eco-conscious practices including hand weaving and whole-animal leather productions. He works with vendors and factories around the world to create next-generation sustainable textiles and adopt more sustainable manufacturing methods with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for his brand.  

This year’s Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation recipients were selected by a distinguished committee of fashion insiders. The women’s wear, sustainable and accessories designers were judged by Marylou Luther, editor at International Fashion Syndicate; Sally Singer, Fashion News/Features Director for Vogue; Kim Hastreiter, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of Paper Magazine; Julie Gilhart, Vice President of Fashion Merchandising at Barneys; Ruth Finley, Publisher of The Fashion Calendar; Nicole Fischelis, Vice President and Women’s Fashion Director at Macy’s; and Ken Downing, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus.  The men’s category committee included Jay Bell, Vice President and Men’s Divisional Merchandise Manager, at Barneys; Christopher Bollen, Editor in Chief of Interview and Alex Badia, Men’s Fashion Director of Women’s Wear Daily.   Whom You Know thanks our friends at Gallo!  We look forward to this review in Champagne Wishes.

More than 175 designers from across the U.S. submitted applications via the Ecco Domani website, www.eccodomani.com.  To be eligible entrants must be in the design business for no longer than five years and have a minimum of one retail account.  In addition to references, applicants are required to submit look books and/or photographs of their work.  From the initial pool of applicants, up to 25 semi-finalists were chosen in each category and then evaluated on samples of their most recent ready-to-wear women’s, men’s, sustainable and accessories collections. From this talented group the judges voted on the final seven. 

Visit www.eccodomani.com for more information and to see a complete list of EDFF alumni.