Reebok announced the company’s partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) The goal of he collaboration is to nurture creativity and the future talent of American fashion.
The alliance was established in recognition of the ongoing challenge faced when seeking new talent within today’s rapidly-evolving fashion landscape, which constantly demands new and nimble approaches to creative leadership.
By working together with the CFDA, Reebok will help to support those within its Fashion Future Graduate Showcase (FFGS), a partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), which spotlights the best young talents from eight colleges nationwide who are on the cusp of embarking on their career in the fashion industry.
Through FFGS, which takes place in NYC on July 9-10 with a special presentation of four top graduates on July 11, Reebok and the CFDA will engage innovative thinkers from across the U.S. early on in their careers and will work together to provide opportunities to propel these candidates to the next stage via industry exposure and mentorship links with established industry figures.
In addition, from February, Reebok will be an official supporter of New York Fashion Week: Men’s, with a specific focus on discovering and supporting the next generation of talent–a move set to advance and shape the future of American menswear design.
Karen Reuther, creative director at Reebok, said: “Reebok is committed to inspiring and enabling people to push boundaries and reach their full potential. With the need to secure the creative talent of tomorrow today, our partnership with the CFDA will enable us to identify and support the next generation of American fashion trailblazers. To stay ahead, tomorrow’s leaders will need to incorporate digital innovation, sustainability and ethical practices into their fashion philosophy, and our ambition is that, through our union with the CFDA, we will be able to nurture these exciting individuals to meet the evolving demands of the industry.”
Steven Kolb, resident and CEO of the CFDA, commented: “Our new partnership with Reebok around Fashion Future Graduate Showcase this month and New York Fashion Week: Men’s next February allows us to to jointly put the spotlight on emerging talent and secure the future of American fashion and creativity.”
