2014 Critics

Lisa Di NapoliLisa di Napoli, Children’s Wear

Lisa Di Napoli has designed children’s clothing for over 15 years. In the 1990s, Di Napoli created a line called H. M. Woggle Bug with the intent to bring sophistication to the American children’s wear market. The use of luxury fabrics in wistful designs became her signature. Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom carried the line, as well as specialty boutiques across the country. In 1998, her designs won her an Earnie Award in children’s wear. Di Napoli is currently vice president of children’s wear at Tommy Hilfiger, and previously led design teams for Best & Co. and Baby Gap. She is a graduate of Parsons School of Design.

Rebecca MinkoffRebecca Minkoff, Sportswear

Rebecca Minkoff is an industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, accessories, footwear, and apparel whose designs can be spotted around the world on young women and celebrities alike. In 2005, Minkoff’s first handbag, dubbed the “Morning After Bag,” ignited her career as an accessories designer and has inspired her “downtown romantic”-themed designs that feature leathers, studs, and edgy hardware. Today, Rebecca Minkoff is a global lifestyle brand distributed in over 900 stores worldwide. Minkoff is an active member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and supports multiple philanthropies.

Mathieu MiranoMathieu Mirano, Special Occasion

At just 22 years old, Mathieu Mirano has already established himself as one of America’s influential young designers. He launched his first collection in 2012, with a focus on construction, craft, and imagination. Mirano draws inspiration from many world-renowned composers, such as Camille Saint-Saëns and Philip Glass, as well as from his extensive travels and cultural experiences in Europe, Asia, and Africa. His work has attracted the attention of national and international top-tier fashion publications as well as celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Nicole Richie, Elizabeth Banks, and Kat Graham. His collection shows each season at New York Fashion Week and is sold by retailers nationwide.

critic_brandonsunBrandon Sun, Sportswear

Brandon Sun began his fashion career after graduating from Parsons The New School of Design where he was named Designer of the Year and awarded the Gold Thimble. Previously, he was presented with the CFDA’s national scholarship and held internships with Jeffrey Chow and Calvin Klein. After his graduation, Sun began working with two of the most distinguished American luxury brands: J. Mendel and Oscar de la Renta.

Within five years at J. Mendel, Sun rose from design assistant to designer, honing his technique in couture, tailoring, ready-to-wear and fur. In 2009, Sun joined Oscar de la Renta as design director for the fur division, bringing a modern edge while learning from one of America’s most celebrated brands.

In February 2011, Sun launched a signature collection of luxury fur accessories, and in 2012, he presented a full collection of ready-to-wear and fur coats during New York Fashion Week.

Daniel VosovicDaniel Vosovic, Sportswear

Michigan native and FIT graduate Daniel Vosovic has been on the fashion main stage for nearly a decade and his various endeavors have achieved a level of success that generally takes an entire career to attain. Today, Vosovic’s main focus is heading his own eponymous New York-based label, which launched in February 2010. His experiences have shaped him into a refined and thoughtful designer whose sophisticated taste continues to be a trademark of his growing brand. Focusing on modern silhouettes and using original photographic digital prints and intriguing hand embroideries as staples of each collection, Vosovic offers a unique perspective with his deceptively simple designs. He is currently a member of the CFDA Fashion Incubator program, designed to support the next generation of fashion designers in New York City.

Reiko WaisglassReiko Waisglass, Knitwear

Prior to settling in New York, Reiko Waisglass graduated from McGill University with a degree in cultural theory and communications. Her academic studies in consumer culture and identity, combined with a background in art and design, paved her way to Parsons The New School for Design, where she earned a degree in fashion design.

Early in her career, Waisglass was drawn to knitwear, quickly developing a love for innovative yarns, stitches, and knitting technology. Currently, she is the senior knitwear designer for both men’s and women’s collections at 3.1 Phillip Lim. She has also worked with Olivier Theyskens, Theory, Jeffrey Chow, and Carolina Herrera.

Kate Williams, Knitwear

A graduate of Central Saint Martins, a leading art and design school in London, Kate Williams has a background in knitted textiles and fashion. Her technical training has allowed her to explore knitwear with a creative approach, bending the traditional routes of knitted garment construction. Over the last decade, Williams has led Donna Karan’s knitwear department both for DKNY and the collection.

Felicia ZivkovicFelicia Zivkovic, Sportswear

Felicia Zivkovic studied at Parsons The New School for Design under the tutelage of Tim Gunn.  After graduation she met Lela Rose and was hired as assistant designer for Rose’s eponymous company. In Zivkovic’s ten years at Lela Rose, she has risen to head of design, helping develop it into an internationally recognized brand.  Lela Rose’s feminine and whimsical cocktail dresses and sportswear have been worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Mariska Hargitay, Chloe Sevigny, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Obama. In recent years, Lela Rose has developed a prominent bridal collection and has become known for collaborations with Payless, Target, and many others.

Jennifer ZuccariniJennifer Zuccarini, Intimate Apparel

In 2012, Jennifer Zuccarini launched Fleur du Mal, a lingerie and ready-to-wear luxury brand with a dynamic website and next-generation mobile site featuring curated pinboards that encourage discovery and engagement. Fleur du Mal has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, W, Vanity Fair, WWD, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. The collection is sold online as well as at Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Kirna Zabete, and Curve.

Zuccarini is a fine arts graduate of Montreal’s Concordia University and studied fashion design at FIT. In 2005, she co-founded and was the creative director of the luxury lingerie brand Kiki de Montparnasse. She has also worked at Victoria’s Secret as the design director of intimates.

FIT, State University of New York

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