Ecco Domani Toasts to Fashion’s Newest Talent

Many of fashion’s freshest talent gathered at the Museum of Arts and Design last week for the 2012 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Star Style Awards. Womenswear lines CorrellCorrell, Eighteenth, Haus Alkire, and Sunhee; Menswear designer Tim Coppens; Accessory line Dezso by Sara Beltrán; and sustainable designer Titania Inglis were each awarded a $25,000 grant to showcase the young designers’ collections at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. The Ecco Domani judges panel, including fashion writers like Marylou Luther, Julie Gilhart, Sally Singer and Kim Hastreiter, prides itself on always looking to the future, which has ensured these new designers are in good company. Over the past 11 seasons, the foundation has awarded over $1.3 million to emerging designers including Zac Posen, Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som, Rodarte, Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung.

The year’s winners all bring something different to the table: Eighteenth’s designer,
Alexa Galler’s asymmetrical t-shirts offer a stylish twist on a classic; CorrellCorrell’s knitwear bring a dreamy air to wool and linen; Sara Beltrán brings sea-inspired accessories onto dry land; and Inglis’ modern lines have androgynous appeal.

Many of the recipients agreed the application process wasn’t easy, but the results were worth it. “It was a lot of work. I felt like I was applying to college again,” Galler explained. “There were a lot of questions, and there was a video interview we had to do. We had to have a look book to go with it. It was really interesting, but I’m really excited.”

The foundation is proud of the style innovations from this year’s recipients and hopes for the same success that the foundation’s alumni have shared. “Ecco Domani wines are about style and innovation and the 2012 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award recipients truly embody these values, “ said Molly Davis, Marketing Director for Ecco Domani Wines. “We are proud to raise a glass to theis year’s winners and are honored that acknowledgement from the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation links these emerging fashion designers to our roster of well-know alumni.”

For more information on this year’s winners and past alumni, please visit EccoDomani.com.