Zane Li Announced Winner of 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

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The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue announced the winner of the 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund during a dinner last night at the Crane Club in New York City. Zane Li of Lii took home $300,000 and a bright future of business mentorships with the two organizations. Runner-ups, Aisling Camps and Emily Dawn Long, each received $100,000. The announcement was made by model Mona Tougaard at the dinner hosted by Tory Burch, Thom Browne, Chloe Malle, and Anna Wintour. 

Vogue reports that Zane Li graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in the spring of 2023 and held his first New York Fashion Week in 2025. The show was sponsored by Nike, a nod to the element of sportswear in Li’s designs. His win last night comes just after he received the 2026 Karl Lagerfeld Prize at the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers. The winning streak is backed by immense talent and a grace that makes the young designer, and his brand, a fan favorite.

Zane Li

Anna Wintour, Tory Burch, Aisling Camps, Zane Li, Emily Dawn Long, Thom Browne, Chloe Malle

“From silk made of orange peels to materials inspired by prehistoric dinosaurs, this year’s finalists have reminded us that there is no shortage of imagination in American fashion. At a time when it can feel easier to follow the crowd, these designers are doing anything but. It’s been such a joy getting to know them, and I’m thrilled to celebrate our winners and see what all ten designers dream up next,” said Chloe Malle.

It seemed like every notable name in fashion was dining at Crane Club; amongst the guests were Eva Chen, Aurora James, Nicole Phelps, Christopher John Rogers, Yumi Shin, Vera Wang, Wes Gordon, Rachel Scott, Henry Zankov, Devyn Garcia, Gabriela Hearst, and Kim Shui. Alongside these industry icons were the ten finalists: Aisling Camps, Amir Taghi, Terrence Zhou of Bad Binch TongTong, Emily Dawn Long, Jamie Haller, Julia Ferentinos of Juju Vera, Zane Li of Lii, George Inaki of Milamore, Claire Sullivan of Miss Claire Sullivan, and Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen.

Wes Gordon, Allison Sarofim

“The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is an important reminder of why we must continue to champion original voices and true creativity… Each of this year’s finalists brings a distinct point of view that only they could…Their true individuality is what makes American fashion so compelling, and supporting their future is the responsibility of our industry… I look forward to seeing what they do next…,” said Thom Browne.

Alexandra Hildreth, Tanner Riccie, Irene Kim, Stella Hanan, Kim Shui, Mona Tougaard