Retail Detail. Gap Unveils Latest Designs by CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Winners

 

Its that time again! The masterminds at Gap, led by fearless leader and executive vice president of design Patrick Robinson, have once again tapped the latest winners of the prodigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award to create limited edition collections of men’s and women’s apparel and jewelry exclusively for the retailer. This year, three is the magic number as winners Monique Péan, Patrik Ervell and Sophie Theallet all threw their hats into the design ring. Robinson worked closely with the designers while they worked on creating what he calls "amazing interpretations" of Gap’s signature aesthetic.“I love the idea of bringing these brilliant designers to a wider audience,” he said.

Each of the designers were able to bring their own vision to the pieces they created, in conjunction with Gap's classic look. Péan, who has been producing socially responsible and eco-friendly fine jewelry since 2006, worked with artisans in Colombia and used sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as naturally shed buffalo horn, coconut, buri twine and organic cotton to produce 12 styles of jewelry. “They mirror the design and organic direction of my fine jewelry,” she said. This is the first time Pean is creating her pieces in quantity since her fine jewelry collection features one-of-a-kind pieces. “So, it was a challenge but it was really exciting, too,” she said.

Ervell, who is also a nominee for the Swarovski Award for Menswear from the CFDA, said his “starting point was the fond memories I have of growing up in San Francisco where Gap is from.” For his pieces in menswear, he worked to “tap into the simple classics” that speak to the core of the Gap. “I’ve boiled archetypical men’s garments down to their essence,” he said. Included in his collection are jeans in a railroad stripe denim,  button-down shirts and blazers that look like tweed are actually constructed from unrefined silk yarn. “They all feel very Gap to me,” he said.

Theallet said she was inspired to “make beautiful dresses that would give [a hint to the Gap customer] what Sophie Theallet is all about. They’re easy to wear and they’re happy and colorful for summer.” The designs look akin to pieces in her regular line, but are constructed from fabrics with a “more accessible” price, such as cotton. The styles run the gamut from a gathered top dress, a ruffle-tier dress, a tie-front dress and skirt and a tie-front top. Theallet noted the collection should appeal to everyone from a young woman to a grandmother. “Every piece can be worn in a different way,” she said.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established in 2003 to help emerging American design talent find success in the fashion business. Gap has been a prime sponsor of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards for the past four years, during which the retailer always invites the winners to create these limited-edition collections. Past winners have included Doo.ri, Vena Cava, Phillip Lim and Rodarte.

The 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund collections for Gap will be unveiled at an event today at a special pop-up shop at the Gap’s concept store at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street in Manhattan. Keep an eye out for these chic looks hitting stores and Gap.com soon!

Article and Photo Source: WWD
-Alia Rajput