Zane Li, founder of the fashion label Lii, has won the 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, with designers Emily Dawn Long and Aisling Camps named runners-up.

The winners were announced Tuesday evening at a celebratory dinner at New York’s Crane Club, hosted by Tory Burch, Thom Browne, Chloe Malle and Anna Wintour.

Li, a Chongqing-born, New York-based designer of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. His win adds to a series of recent achievements, including receiving the Fashion Trust U.S. Ready-to-Wear award this year and winning the Karl Lagerfeld Prize at the LVMH Prize ceremony in Paris last month.

Through Lii, Li explores the intersection of sportswear and couture, bringing together contrasting influences to develop a distinctive design language.

The designer will receive a $300,000 grant, while Long and Camps will each be awarded $100,000. All three will also gain access to business mentorship and industry resources intended to support their brands’ long-term development.

The remaining finalists in this year’s competition were Amir Taghi, Terrence Zhou of Bad Binch TongTong, Jamie Haller, Julia Ferentinos of Juju Vera, George Inaki of Milamore, Claire Sullivan of Miss Claire Sullivan and Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen.

Industry leaders celebrate emerging talent

Thom Browne, chairman of the CFDA, emphasized the importance of supporting independent designers and preserving creative individuality within American fashion.

He said the competition reinforces the industry’s responsibility to champion original voices, noting that each finalist brought a distinctive perspective and contributed to the strength of American design.

Chloe Malle, head of editorial content at American Vogue, also praised the finalists’ creativity, highlighting their experimentation with unconventional materials, including silk made from orange peels and textiles inspired by prehistoric dinosaurs.

Malle said the designers demonstrated the value of originality at a time when following established trends can appear easier than pursuing unconventional ideas.

The 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is supported by Bloomingdale’s, Humane World for Animals, Instagram, Nordstrom and Vogue.

This year’s selection committee included Aurora James of Brother Vellies and Fifteen Percent Pledge, Malle, Nicole Phelps of Vogue, designer Christopher John Rogers, Denise Magid of Bloomingdale’s, Eva Chen of Instagram, Paloma Elsesser, Browne and Yumi Shin of Nordstrom.

Sustainability takes center stage

Humane World for Animals joined this year’s Fashion Fund as the Design Challenge partner, introducing the Material Innovation Challenge to encourage finalists to explore innovative bio-based textiles.

The initiative focuses on materials that could help move the fashion industry toward more sustainable and cruelty-free production practices. The organization, which has worked in animal protection for more than 70 years, was formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International.

The challenge offered designers an opportunity to demonstrate how material innovation can become an integral part of creative development while addressing the industry’s environmental and ethical concerns.

A legacy of supporting American fashion

Last year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner was Ashlynn Park, who received a $300,000 grant and dedicated industry mentorship. Julian Louie of menswear label Aubero and Stephanie Suberville of Heirlome were named runners-up.

Established following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was created to help emerging designers navigate the fashion business and develop the next generation of American talent.

Since its launch, the program has supported 200 designers, providing more than $8.2 million in funding alongside mentorship and industry guidance.

Its alumni include Billy Reid, Bode, Christopher John Rogers, Simkhai, Altuzarra, L’Enchanteur, Melitta Baumeister, Proenza Schouler, Pyer Moss, The Elder Statesman and Sami Miro.

The program has also contributed to greater representation within the industry. According to the fund, 41 percent of participating brands are fully or partially women-owned, while 40 percent are fully or partially minority-owned.

With Li’s latest achievement, the fund continues its mission of helping emerging designers translate creative ambition into sustainable businesses while strengthening the diversity and originality of American fashion.