Telfar Clemens wins CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award

Last night, the fashion industry and members of the CFDA gathered for the announcement of the winners of the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Telfar Clemens of Telfar took him the top prize of 400,000 dollars. Becca McCharen-Tran of Chromat and Ahlem Manai-Platt of Ahlem took home the runners-up prizes of 150,000 dollars.

Telfar isn't your traditional designer. Rather than go after high-profile celebrities and influencers to wear their clothes, he recently did a collaboration with White Castle. The designer is known for pushing the envelope and thinking outside of box, as well as for his clothing being unisex.

During the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund runway show in Los Angeles, his designs were modeled by voguers and he had an Instagram campaign with the hashtag #telfarbambimo to highlight Telfar lovers.

Telfar, Chromat and Ahlem take home CVFF honors

Runner-up McCharen-Tran is known for her well engineered swimwear with technical elements. She loves to incorporate high-tech elements into her work, such as her partnership with Intel on on responsive garments. She is also known for promoting body diversity in her shows featuring models of all sizes, in addition to featuring drag queens and transgender models on her runways.

Runner-up Ahlem is an eyewear brand based in Venice Beach, California. Next up, the designer plans on opening a store in downtown Los Angeles.

All Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund winners will receive mentoring from an industry figure of their choice.

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was founded in 2003 to foster the next generation of emerging of American design talent. Since its inception, the program has awarded 5.2 million dollars to over 30 companies.

photos: Telfar: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images North America / AFP Becca: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images North America / AFP