Alexander Wang Wins CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, now in its fifth year, named Alexander Wang the 2008 winner of a $200,000 prize and year-long mentorship at a dinner Monday night, Nov. 17, in New York. Runners-up included Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava and milliner Albertus Q. Swanepoel, who were also finalists last year. Both will receive prizes of $50,000.

Wang, who launched his first collection after just one year at Parsons School of Design in New York, hoped that the prize would mean good things for his business in the coming year.

"The mentorship will obviously be a big bonus!" he told Fashion Wire Daily.

As to whether he thought it would allow him to take more risks, for Wang, that’s already a key part of his process.

"I always love to take risks, that’s what drives me,” he said. “It’s about a carefully thought-out challenge."

On hand to announce the winners were actress and Dior face Charlize Theron and the evening’s keynote speaker, designer John Galliano.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, established in 2003, seeks out the best in emerging American design talent with the intent of helping grow their fledgling businesses. The ten finalists chosen this year - whittled down from 145 applicants this year - also included Alejandro Ingelmo, Irene Neuwirth, Jason Wu, Juan Carlos Obando, Swaim and Christina Hutson of Obedient Sons and Daughters, John Patrick of Organic and Richard Chai.

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