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CFDA's Fashion Incubator Showcases 10 Top Talents at the W

By Danielle Directo-Meston

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Seeing as the Brits and the French are already spotlighting their hometown heroes here, it's clear the fashion world is finally taking note of LA's style scene. Capping off the fall/winter LA Fashion Week festivities yesterday was the CFDA's Fashion Incubator showcase at the W Hollywood, where 10 on-the-rise talents presented their collections smack dab in the middle of LA Market Week. Though the non profit has popped up in LA before, this is the first time they've staged their emerging designer showcase in the City of Angels, which is why we included it as a must-stop on our LAFW sched.

The presentation included more than a few familiar names: Project Runway alumn Daniel Vosovic, LA boutique faves like Whit and Timo Weiland, plus Jonathan Simkhai, whose structured silhouettes we discovered during our visit to DTLA's new Oak. After the jump, see some of our fave looks from all 10 designers' fall lines.

Ari Dein: We had no idea designer Arielle Shapiro's silk black button-down was straight from her sleepwear line, a testament to her truly LA-ready pajamas-as-daywear pieces. Shapiro tells us her fall collection was inspired by her travels to Thailand, with influences of "Art Deco and Old New York" and a nod to Oscar de la Renta's love for lace, "but for PJs." We can totally see that floral set above paired with a blazer for spring and summer.

Burkman Bros.: With design backgrounds at the Gap, Canadian brothers Ben and Doug Burkman put their own global-inspired spin on tried-and-true menswear basics. Their fall line is comprised of comfy flannels, printastic button-downs and super-soft hoodies, all inspired by the outdoors and travel.

Emanuela Duca: Having already created a collection for supe Linda Evangelista, it's easy to see why the fine jewelry designer's sculptural, nature-inspired pieces caught the eye of the CFDA. Bred in Rome and based in Manhattan, Duca says the architectural textures of ancient Italy and old world New York serve as the inspiration of her line. The designer tells us she's eyeing boutiques in LA to stock her line, so expect to see pieces in stores in the future.

Reece Hudson: If you frequent cult fave boutique Satine, you may already be familiar with accessories designer Reece Solomon's luxe leather bags. For fall, the designer presented peacock feather-embroidered cross-bodies, textured handbags and some very red-carpet ready clutches—including that stunning flower petal piece above.

ISAORA: The NY-based mens brand's focus is on functional, fashionable and "understated activewear." Designed for premium performance, the hi-tech brand uses "latest innovations and state-of-the-art construction" for their stylish sportswear line.

NUMBER:Lab: Designer Greg Lawrence tells us his sportswear collection was created with the gym-going professional in mind. With pieces boasting "subtle sporty paneling" and their signature CoolTech micromesh, the brand's goal is strike a balance between Y-3's high-end aesthetic and the everyday wearable style of lines like Lululemon and Under Armour, he says.

Jonathan Simkhai: Among the highlights was the NY-based designer's menswear- and sportswear-inspired collection of pieces, which he says was "inspired by a crocodile-covered cigar box." How amazing are those reptilian print dresses for fall?

Daniel Vosovic: Another collection on our must-have list was the Project Runway star's fall collection, which he tells us is a mix of Frida Kahlo and sportswear influences, "but everything is still very grounded in New York: the blacks, the whites, it's very clean." Of course, his reality TV stint wasn't all that bad, and he's hoping to leverage that name recognition, he says. "There's just so much noise in the market and for a small label; I like the fact that my name, at times, is bigger [than] my looks—[then it's] how do I use that, how do I speak to [customers]?"
  • Timo Weiland's jewelry collab with Joomi Lim.

Timo Weiland: A barn getaway with friends in upstate New York is what inspired the brand's "human realistic" fall collection, co-founder Alan Eckstein tells us. Key women's pieces included patterns and prints, like their black and white graphic print top and polka dot dress, while top men's pieces included a leather bomber and popcorn sweaters. Can we have it all?


Whit: Designer Whitney Pozgay tells us she paid homage to mid-century modern and pastoral Scandinavia with her fall line, which included unexpected twists on classic prints. We were digging that ink blot-meets-cow spot dress and the tree ring print top, and pretty much everything from Whit's debut footwear collection. Unsurprisingly, Pozgay tells us her "easy breezy dresses and transitional pieces [like] shirt dresses, knitwear and jackets" are big hits in LA. · CFDA [Official Site]
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