When Bloomberg announced the launch of an "incubator" space in the Garment District with the help of the CFDA, no one was quite sure what to expect. A year later, the shared space has played host to skyrocketing talents like Prabal Gurung, Bibhu Mohapatra, and Waris Ahluwalia, and even has a vibrant Twitter account.
Next year, it has been announced, the Incubator will be sponsored by Target -- a brand that has already shown an interest in up-and-coming designers with its GO International collaboration series. (Granted, it has of late hit a snag with the design team behind Proenza Schouler.)
It's difficult to argue with the benefits of the Incubator program, which offers selected designers a reduced rate on studio space (which often doubles as a showroom for retail clients), as well as mentorship.
As such, we'd wager that the designers applying for the next round of the Incubator program will face some stiff competition. Starting now, the CFDA is hosting an open call for 2012-2014 applicants, and from those designers, a panel of insiders will pick the 10 top candidates to be the Incubator's next residents.
Interested designers should head over to CFDA.com for more information on how to apply.
