Zane Li of Lii won the 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The two runners-up were Emily Dawn Long and Aisling Camps.
The winners were revealed Tuesday night at a celebratory dinner held at The Crane Club in New York, hosted by Tory Burch, Thom Browne, Chloe Malle and Anna Wintour.
This rest of this year’s 10 finalists were Amir Taghi, Terrence Zhou (Bad Binch TongTong), Jamie Haller, Julia Ferentinos (Juju Vera), George Inaki (Milamore), Claire Sullivan (Miss Claire Sullivan) and Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen.
The winner takes home a $300,000 award, while each runner-up receives $100,000. The winners, runners-up and finalists will also be presented with meaningful business mentorships and a pathway to success.
“The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is an important reminder of why we must continue to champion original voices and true creativity….Each of this year’s finalists bring a distinct point of view that only they could….Their true individuality is what makes American fashion so compelling and supporting their future is the responsibility of our industry….I look forward to seeing what they do next,” said Thom Browne, chairman of the CFDA.
“From silk made of orange peels to materials inspired by prehistoric dinosaurs, this year’s finalists have reminded that there is no shortage of imagination in American fashion. At a time when it can feel easier to follow the crowd, these designers are doing anything but. It’s been such a joy getting to know them, and I’m thrilled to celebrate our winners and see what all 10 designers dream up next,” said Chloe Malle, head of editorial content, American Vogue.
The 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is supported by Bloomingdale’s, Humane World for Animals, Instagram, Nordstrom and Vogue.
The members of the 2026 Selection Committee included Aurora James of Brother Vellies and Fifteen Percent Pledge, Chloe Malle and Nicole Phelps of Vogue, Christopher John Rogers, Denise Magid of Bloomingdale’s, Eva Chen of Instagram, Paloma Elsesser, Thom Browne and Yumi Shin of Nordstrom.
During this year’s Fashion Fund season, Humane World for Animals, a global leader in animal protection for more than 70 years and formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, joined as the Design Challenge partner. It invited finalists to take part in the Material Innovation Challenge, highlighting innovative bio-based textiles that help steer the fashion industry toward a sustainable and cruelty-free future.
Last year’s winners of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund were Ashlynn Park, who received $300,000 grant, along with a dedicated industry mentorship. The runners-up were Julian Louie of the menswear label Aubero, and Stephanie Suberville of Heirlome.
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to help emerging designers and cultivate the next generation of American fashion talent. Since its inception, 200 designers have received mentoring and a total of more than $8.2 million in support. Past finalists and winners include Ashlyn, Billy Reid, Bode, Christopher John Rogers, Simkhai, Altuzarra, L’Enchanteur, Melitta Baumeister, Proenza Schouler, Pyer Moss, The Elder Statesman and Sami Miro. Of the designers who have gone through the program, 41 percent of the brands are fully or partially women owned, and 40 percent are fully or partially minority owned.