CFDA Joins Forces with Paul Smith's Charitable Foundation
The CFDA and Paul Smith Foundation have announced a Designer-in-Residence opportunity that will see one American designer join the Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield in London for a year.
Starting this August, applications will open through the CFDA for the residency, which is set to begin in September. The recipient will join the second-year cohort alongside six UK-based designers.
The 12-month opportunity offers a complimentary 400-square-foot studio space at Studio Smithfield, mentoring from industry leaders, business-planning training, visa and flight support, and a significant contribution towards living expenses.
The initiative, now in its second year, reflects a strong UK-US cultural and creative partnership. It aims to support emerging American designers by offering workspace, mentorship, and business education in an international market.
The selection process involves an August application opening through the CFDA, with September interviews in New York City conducted by a panel including Sir Paul Smith, CFDA CEO Steven Kolb, and CFDA Vice President Sara Kozlowski.
Sir Paul Smith, who has unofficially supported numerous designers over the years, including John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, expresses pride in the work his foundation does in supporting the growth of designers' businesses and careers. He describes the opportunity for an American designer to join the Fashion Residency as a potentially life-changing experience.
Steven Kolb, CFDA CEO and President, emphasizes the global nature of the fashion industry and the invaluable international experience and exposure the residency offers to one American talent. He views the opportunity as a chance to provide one American designer with invaluable experience in an international market.
The residency arrives at a time when funding for the arts and access to education are described as being at an all-time low. The CFDA expresses gratitude for Sir Paul Smith's continued collaboration and dedication to nurturing the next generation of talent.
The opportunity is supported by Projekt. The shortlisted candidates will interview in New York City in September, with the recipient being announced soon after.
For those interested in applying, more information can be found on the CFDA website.
[1] CFDA. (2024). Designer-in-Residence Opportunity. Retrieved from https://www.cfda.com/designer-in-residence
[2] Paul Smith Foundation. (2024). Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield. Retrieved from https://www.paulsmithfoundation.org/fashion-residency
[3] Studio Smithfield. (2024). About. Retrieved from https://studiosmithfield.com/about
[4] British Fashion Council. (2024). Supporting British Talent. Retrieved from https://www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/supporting-british-talent
[5] Vogue Business. (2024). CFDA and Paul Smith Foundation Launch Designer-in-Residence Program. Retrieved from https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/cfdas-designer-in-residence-program-launches-with-paul-smith-foundation
- This Designer-in-Residence opportunity, created in collaboration between the CFDA and the Paul Smith Foundation, isn't only focused on fashion-and-beauty, but also includes education-and-self-development aspects, as it offers business-planning training and mentorship to the selected designer.
- As the CFDA website states, this collaboration’s 12-month residency program is not limited to fashion-and-beauty, but extends to lifestyle development, as it provides a significant contribution towards living expenses and a complimentary studio space at Studio Smithfield, thus offering a holistic growth experience for the chosen American designer.
