FASHION

Banana Republic and CFDA Supporting Emerging Designers Who Produce in the U.S.

Banana Republic and the Council of Fashion Designers of America are ramping up a program that supports emerging designers in the United States who create and manufacture their collections in their local cities.

The partnership will include two limited-edition collections sold exclusively at select Banana Republic flagship stores and online. The program will spotlight one New York–based designer—the first one being Timo Weiland—to create a capsule collection for Spring 2016. Then a Los Angeles–based designer who manufactures in LA will be selected to design a collection.

“This new program is a great opportunity to provide mentorship and resources to help creative talent grow their business while designing and producing locally,” said Marissa Webb, Banana Republic’s creative director.

With the Weiland collaboration, the designer will create a collection with 12 womenswear styles in solids and customs prints—including dresses, tops, skirts and a blazer. It will launch at the retail chain in March 2016. The collection will be sewn in New York by Sunrise Studio and Sn Productions. For more information, visit www.cfda.com.