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Olivia Cheng Of Dauphinette Named Winner Of Genesis CFDA AAPI Design + Innovation Grant
Olivia Cheng of Dauphinette has been honoured as the recipient of the Genesis and CFDA's AAPI-focused innovation grant. This announcement was made at Genesis House in New York City. The initiative, now in its second year, aims to elevate the work of AAPI designers by providing mentorship and financial support from Genesis to create collections reflecting their Asian heritage.
Cheng's collection, named "Clove," draws inspiration from the transitional period between seasons. It focuses on preserving natural materials and highlights the cultural significance of the gingko tree in East Asia and Cheng's family history. Each piece incorporates elements like 24k-gold electroplated gingko leaves and lotus flowers from her mother's garden.
The CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant was reintroduced in June 2024. From a pool of applicants, Bach Mai, Olivia Cheng, and Kozaburo were chosen as finalists. Each received $40,000 from Genesis to fund their design projects and participated in an immersion trip to Seoul for cultural inspiration.
Rachel Espersen, executive director at Genesis Motor America, expressed pride in supporting AAPI talent through this program. "All of our finalists have consistently demonstrated their extraordinary expertise and ingenuity over the last five months," she said. The finalists presented their collections to a panel of judges at a private event on February 4th.
Genesis House is located in New York City's Meatpacking District. It offers experiences influenced by Korean culture, culinary excellence, and innovative architecture. The space includes a showroom, restaurant, and cellar stage, embodying bold design and progressive function while showcasing the Genesis brand.
The advisory board for the grant included notable figures such as Alina Cho (Journalist), Eva Chen (Meta), Fernando Garcia (Monse), Jodie Chan (Carolina Herrera), Rachel Espersen (Genesis), Sandra Park (Saks), Stephanie Horton (Google), Steven Kolb (CFDA), Tina Leung (Stylist), and Wen Zhou (3.1 Phillip Lim).
Celebrating Emerging Designers
The private showcase at Genesis House allowed guests to view the collections and hear from the designers about their inspirations. Olivia Cheng received an additional $60,000 for her collection's development, bringing her total grant amount to $100,000.
"We are extremely proud to congratulate Olivia Cheng of Dauphinette for becoming the second recipient of this landmark program," said Steven Kolb, CEO of CFDA. He highlighted how this initiative provides emerging AAPI designers with capital, tools, mentorship, and industry experience necessary for success.
Cheng expressed gratitude for being selected as this year's recipient: "Participating in this program has not only been instrumental in my journey as a designer but also connected me with lifelong friends and mentors." Her final designs will be displayed at Genesis House until February 16th.
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