Monique Pean

>> As part of a new, three-year partnership between the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and Tiffany & Co. to support emerging jewelry designers, Monique Pean and Eddie Borgo were awarded grants — Pean received $150,000 and Borgo received $100,000. All nine jewelry designers who have been named CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists since the fund's inception in 2004 were eligible to apply for the grant; each was required to submit statements on their brand’s creative vision, their current collection, and their brand's financial information — including intended use for the grant.

>> Tiffany & Co. has made a $1 million gift to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund: The resultant three-year partnership includes a one-time, $250,000 business development grant for one of the nine jewelry designers who has been a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist since the competition's 2004 launch. These designers include Eddie Borgo, Pamela Love, House of Waris's Waris Ahluwalia, Monique Pean, Irene Neuwirth, Philip Crangi, Subversive Jewelry's Justin Giunta, Anthony Nak's Nak Armstrong and Anthony Camargo (who shuttered their line last year), and Dean Harris. Each designer has received an application for the grant, and a winner will be named this Summer. “As a leader in the jewelry industry, it is important to us that the next generation of talented jewelry designers is able to succeed in the face of the many business challenges they face,” said Tiffany chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalski. “Partnering with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, this grant is intended to continue to develop jewelry as an important field of design.” [WWD]

>> Last night, Maria Cornejo, Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra of Costello Tagliapietra, and Monique Pean were named the inaugural winners of the CFDA & Lexus Hybrid Living Eco Fashion Challenge.

Each had to demonstrate a commitment to ecologically responsible design, with a minimum of 25 percent of their collection produced in an environmentally-friendly manner: Pean uses recycled gold and sustainable buffalo horn; Costello Tagliapietra creates fabric dyes in an eco-friendly way; and Cornejo employs sustainable manufacturing practices and uses fabric like cupro, which is typically discarded during the production of cotton. In turn, each was awarded $25,000 from Lexus to use toward their Fall 2011 presentation in February.

The other 2010 finalists included Alabama Chanin, Behnaz Sarafpour, Libertine by Johnson Hartig, Marcia Patmos, Organic by John Patrick, Slow and Steady Wins the Race by Mary Ping, and Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta.

>> Wednesday evening, Vera Wang moved almost all of the furniture out of her vast Park Avenue apartment to toast this year's 26 new CFDA inductees. “It may not be as big as Donna Karan’s loft, but I can fit you all in,” Wang said of her duplex, which she estimated was hosting 300 guests. Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee Ocleppo were impressed, however — The Cut caught them exclaiming: “It's amazing. The kitchen is sick. Our kitchen is like, a tenth of that size. That's like a restaurant kitchen.”

The new members include: Waris Ahluwalia — who said of the honor, “I feel like I almost should put this on my passport as my fashion visa. It's nice to make this baby official!", Steven Alan, Lisa Axelson of Ann Taylor, Lubov Azria, Shane Baum of Baumvision, Vicki Beamon and Karen Erickson of Erickson Beamon, George Esquivel, Robert Geller, Gary Graham, Ulrich Grimm of Calvin Klein, Sang A Im-Propp, Anthony Keegan of Commonwealth Utilities, Adam Kimmel, Nikki Kule of Kule, Kimberly McDonald, Rebecca Minkoff, Bibhu Mohapatra, Juan Carlos Obando, Monique Péan, Monica Rich Kosann, Pamella Roland, Robert Rodriguez, L'Wren Scott, Shelly Steffee, and Sophie Theallet, who just moved into a new office space.

You may not be familiar with Mexican-born Christian Cota, but he's about to blow up. He always steps out of the black fashion box, experimenting with color, texture, and prints. And his Fall collection is a step beyond. Cota was inspired by cubism; he took his signature draping and reimagined it to bring us something more structured, more serious. Mineral tones reigned: ochre, crimson, purple, copper, lapis, onyx, and anthracite — cool metals and warm jewels. Socialite Lauren Santo Domingo serves as his stylist, and his presentation brought the whole Vogue crew to bid warm hellos, and oohs, and aahs.

Subtle, sparkling jewelry was by Monique Pean, recent CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund runner-up. And the lace-up, suede, open-toe booties were Aldo (sweet!). Oh, and do you recall Carrie Underwood wore him to this year's People Choice Awards? I talked to Cota about that, and here's more juice.

Your collection has such a variety or textures, fabrics, and silhouettes.

Very boxy, lean silhouettes, with interesting texture and color. And very body-conscious, lean-fitting silhouettes. I wanted to do daywear, so with this jacket I did a wool coating but added some glitz and lurex feel, which I love. I really believe in having color and shine. Usually I do a softer, drapey silhouette, and this season I wanted to explore something more angular. It can still be beautiful and feminine but a little tougher.

To read the rest of my interview and to see the full Fall collection, read more

The 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award winners have been announced.

Winner: Sophie Theallet

Runners-up: Monique Pean and Patrick Ervell.

Alber Elbaz shared the following words of wisdom with young designers in the room at Skylight Studios, "Success is like a bottle of perfume. Smell it - don't sniff it and don't drink it."

Source: Norman Jean Roy/Vogue

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund top-10 nominees have been announced and it's filled with major talent. The wide range of genius includes eco-conscious creators, Monique Pean and Alabama Chanin's Natalie Chanin, edgy designers Flora Gill and Alexa Adams of Ohne Titel, and even men's footwear extraordinaire, George Esquivel for Esquivel Shoes — stiff competition! The chosen one and two runners-up will be announced at the annual gala on Nov. 16. The prize? Cash and mentoring from the industry's crème de la crème.

(L-R: Ohne Titel, Alabama Chanin, and Sophie Theallet)

To see who else made the cut, read more