The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Genesis Motor have announced the return of the fourth annual AAPI Design + Innovation Grant, introducing a revamped structure.
Submissions are now open for the 2026–2027 programme, which this year moves away from a traditional competition-based model in favor of a more collaborative framework. Under the updated initiative, all three selected designers will receive equal grant funding and prize support.
The program, launched in 2023 through the partnership between the CFDA and Genesis House, continues to champion innovation in design within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
“Each year, this program continues to demonstrate the power of investing in emerging talent through the lens of culture, creativity, and community,” said CFDA CEO and president, Steven Kolb.
“The shift toward a more collective model of support — one that recognizes that innovation is not created in isolation — evolves CFDA’s partnership with Genesis House in new and meaningful ways.”
Participants selected for the 2026–2027 cohort will receive mentorship from an advisory board spanning fashion, retail, technology, and business. Advisors include Eva ChenWen Zhou, Thakoon Panichgul, and executives from companies including Meta, Bottega Veneta, Dover Street Market,and J.Crew.
As part of the initiative, the selected designers will travel to Seoul for an immersive cultural experience designed to inspire and inform their collections. The program will culminate during AAPI Heritage Month in May 2027 with a final presentation at Genesis House in New York City.
In February, Terrence Zhou of Bad Binch TongTong was named the winner of the third annual AAPI Design + Innovation Grant. Zhou’s winning three-piece collection explored heritage, transformation, and Asian futurism. Past recipients of the grant also include Grace Ling and Olivia Cheng.
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