CFDA & Genesis Grant Reimagines Support for AAPI Designers

NEW YORK, NY – May 28, 2026 – Genesis and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have announced a significant evolution in their joint commitment to emerging talent, opening submissions for the fourth annual CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant with a reimagined structure. In a bold move away from traditional competition, the 2026–2027 program will now award equal grant funding and comprehensive support to all three selected designers, reinforcing a philosophy of community over competition.

This pivotal shift underscores a shared belief between the luxury automotive brand and the American fashion authority that creativity flourishes through collaboration, not rivalry. The new model aims to cultivate a supportive ecosystem where cultural exchange and long-term development are prioritized, providing a powerful platform for the next wave of Asian American and Pacific Islander designers.

"At Genesis, innovation begins with bold ideas, diverse perspectives and a willingness to challenge convention," said Tedros Mengiste, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. "As the Genesis House partnership with the CFDA continues to evolve, we are proud to further our support of emerging AAPI designers and create meaningful opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and creative exploration."

Echoing this sentiment, CFDA CEO and President Steven Kolb highlighted the program's progressive nature. "The shift towards a more collective model of support — one that recognizes that innovation is not created in isolation — evolves CFDA's partnership with Genesis House in new and meaningful ways."

A New Model: Community Over Competition

The grant’s updated framework marks a departure from the conventional prize structure that has long dominated the fashion industry. Instead of a single winner receiving a larger prize, the initiative will invest equally in a cohort of three designers. This approach is designed to dismantle the intense pressure of a zero-sum game, allowing participants to focus on creative risk-taking and authentic expression.

By providing equal financial footing, the program encourages a spirit of camaraderie and knowledge-sharing among the designers, who will navigate the year-long program as peers rather than competitors. This collaborative environment is intended to build lasting professional networks that can provide mutual support long after the program concludes. The model reflects a growing industry dialogue around creating more equitable and sustainable pathways for emerging talent, particularly for designers from underrepresented backgrounds who often face disproportionate barriers to entry and growth.

A Legacy of Propelling Talent

Since its inception in 2023, the CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant has established a formidable track record of identifying and elevating groundbreaking designers. The program's past recipients serve as powerful testaments to its impact, having leveraged the grant's financial support and mentorship to achieve significant career milestones.

Inaugural winner Grace Ling, lauded for her fusion of futurism and Asian folklore through advanced 3D-printing, has seen her brand skyrocket. Following her win, Ling was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, saw her work exhibited at The MET Costume Institute, and opened her first flagship store in New York. Her brand has become a favorite among celebrities and was recently picked up by global luxury retailer NET-A-PORTER.

Last year’s recipient, Olivia Cheng of the label Dauphinette, utilized the grant to further her brand's unique vision, which centers on botanical craftsmanship and personal storytelling through repurposed materials. Her winning collection, “Clove,” was a poetic exploration of seasonal change and the cultural significance of the ginkgo tree in East Asia. The most recent winner, Terrence Zhou of Bad Binch TongTong, captivated the industry with his avant-garde sculptural work that explores heritage and Asian futurism. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Zhou's emotionally expressive forms have gained widespread attention from major fashion publications and have even crossed into the digital realm with NFT collections.

Weaving Heritage and Global Inspiration

At its core, the grant challenges designers to explore a profound question: What happens when innovation begins with a cultural story? The program is structured to help participants find their own answers by encouraging a deep dive into the intersection of heritage, modernity, and design. This focus on cultural narrative as a catalyst for innovation is a defining feature of the initiative.

A key component of this exploration is an immersive cultural trip to Seoul, South Korea. This journey provides designers with direct exposure to the country's rich history of design, craftsmanship, and technological advancement. The experience is intended to inspire their collections, offering a wellspring of new ideas and perspectives rooted in Genesis's own Korean heritage. By connecting designers with global craft traditions, the program enriches their creative vocabulary and reinforces the idea that cultural identity can be a powerful driver of contemporary fashion.

The program will culminate during AAPI Heritage Month in May 2027, when the three designers will unveil their final, inspired collections at Genesis House, the brand’s cultural hub in New York City’s Meatpacking District.

Strategic Mentorship and Industry Integration

Beyond financial aid, the grant provides an invaluable support system through a dedicated, cross-disciplinary advisory board. The 2026–2027 mentors include a roster of industry power players such as Eva Chen, VP of Fashion at Meta; Wen Zhou, CEO and President of 3.1 Phillip Lim; designer Thakoon Panichgul; and executives from Bottega Veneta, Dover Street Market New York, and J.Crew. This board offers holistic guidance spanning the entire fashion ecosystem—from creative direction and retail strategy to marketing and business operations.

This comprehensive mentorship, combined with the new collaborative funding model, positions the CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant as a forward-thinking incubator for the future of American fashion. It represents a strategic investment not only in individual designers but in the cultural vibrancy and diversity of the industry as a whole. As submissions open for its fourth year, the program solidifies its role as a vital force in championing the voices and visions that will define fashion's next chapter.