Siki Im and Title of Work named as 2017 Fabric Program designers

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Jul 21, 2016

The CFDA and Milano Unica kicked off the second season of The Fabric Program last Wednesday evening. The 2017 edition of the program will include Siki Im and Jonathan Meizler of Title of Work as the menswear and accessory designers.

 
The Fabric Program launched in 2015 to provide American designers access to emerging Italian mills, teach them about Italian production techniques and create unique textiles and fabrics. The program’s inaugural group of designers included Ryan Roche, Gigi Burris and Matthew, Alex and Samantha Orley of Orley. Orley presented custom textiles made with Larusmiani and Tessitura di Crevacuore at their SS17 collection at NYFW: Men’s and Ryan Roche and Gigi Burris will debut their pieces this September.
 
Botto Poala, President of Milano Unica, stated, “The cooperation with CFDA has been quite successful. We have worked with three emerging and very interesting brands, persons who love fabrics, designers who appreciate quality for their quality garments/accessories. I thank Gigi Burris, Ryan Roche and Orley for their dedication and all the Italian mills that have adhered to ‘The Fabric Program’ for their generosity. This is real international and cultural cooperation and to have welcomed Siki Im and Title of Work into our program represents the value of ‘Made in Italy’ quality. Milano Unica awaits for them at the Maison of Textiles and Accessories on September 6th – 8th, 2016.”

Milano Unica, the Milanese international textile fair, is an event comprised of “Made in Italy” exhibitors that uphold the tradition of Italy’s history and its most prestigious production mills. The fair is held bi-annually in Milan and it was introduced to China in 2012 before launching in New York in July 2015.
 
“After the successful launch of our partnership with Milano Unica in 2015, the CFDA is excited to continue to provide three American designers with the opportunity to connect and develop fabrics with some of Italy’s finest mills,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “The access to these fabrics has been a valuable asset to the designers’ ability to produce collections and build their businesses.”
 
A womenswear designer that will be announced later this month will join Meizler and Im for the 2017 season.