People left to right: Steven Kolb, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CFDA, Eneuri Acosta, Lifestyle, Partnership Communications Cadillac, Melody Lee, Director, Brand Strategy & Planning of Cadillac, Diane von Furstenberg, Designer, Timo Weiland, Designer, Donna Kang, Designer, Alan Eckstein, Designer.
Cadillac and the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced the launch of the Retail Lab. The main component of Retail Lab will be a custom retail shop located on the ground floor of Cadillac’s global headquarters in New York. Participating designers, selected through a competitive application process, will gain valuable retail experience under the tutelage of fashion industry experts.
“Our ongoing partnership with the CFDA represents Cadillac’s unwavering commitment to the fashion community and its growth,” said Melody Lee, Director, Brand Strategy & Planning at Cadillac.
Six designers will be part of the 2016/2017 term, each opening their respective retail shop for three months while under the mentorship program. The inaugural fashion designer is Timo Weiland, whose shop will open to the public in early July. Since Timo Weiland launched the brand with Alan Eckstein and Donna Kang in 2010, the collection developed a following with celebrities like Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Banks, Elijah Wood, and Andrew Garfield.
The Retail Lab program is funded by Cadillac and has elements integral to success in retail, including business development, marketing and PR. In addition to covering costs associated with a retail space, such as real estate, display units, mannequins, signage and point of sale materials, Cadillac will provide each designer with a $75,000 grant to put towards wholesale buys, sales support and marketing.
The CFDA and Cadillac have assembled a team of experts across fashion, retail, business and technology to comprise the Advisory Board, who will curate the program curriculum, develop a Retail Lab handbook and provide valuable mentorship guidance throughout. The Advisory Board consists of Billy Reid; Bobby Schuessler, Who What Wear; Darcy Penick, Shopbop /East Dane; Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann, Derek Lam; Jay Silver, CBiz; Josh Peskowitz, Magasin; Julie Gilhart; Kelli Adams, Redscout; Liz Rodbell, Hudson Bay Company; Marigay McKee, MM Luxe Consulting; Matt Marcotte; Melody Lee, Cadillac; Rachel Besser, Market Editor, Refinery29; Rachel Shechtman, STORY; Reed Krakoff; Robin Kramer, Kramer Design Group; Robin Zendell, Robin Zendell LLC; Simon Doonan, Barneys New York; Stacey Bendet Eisner, Alice + Olivia, and Steven Alan.
“The CFDA is always looking for meaningful programs that help strengthen the impact of American Fashion,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA.
The Retail Lab application process will be open from April 6th through May 6th. Five designers will be chosen by the Advisory Board and announced at the end of May for the 2016/2017 term. Eligible designer will need to meet the following criteria:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Be American or have established a primary design business in the United States
- Be in business for a minimum of 3 years
- Be a designer of demonstrable talent, i.e. have garnered substantial editorial coverage
- Have support (orders) from notable wholesale retailers
- Be able to demonstrate sales growth during their time in business
- Does not have current stand-alone retail location
- Be able to occupy the Retail Lab space for a maximum of 3 months, inclusive of producing and providing inventory for the store
- Open to womenswear, menswear, or accessory designers
- Open to both CFDA and non-CFDA members
