The Fashion Trust U.S. (FTUS) hosted a cocktail event to celebrate the finalists for its third annual FTUS Awards taking place in Los Angeles on April 8, 2025. 

Those in attendance included hosts Tania Fares, Elizabeth Stewart, Karla Welch, Wayman Bannerman, Micah McDonald, Law Roach, Chriselle Lim, and Aimee Song, along with Alex Israel, Arianne Phillips, B Akerlund, Brandon Blackwood, Brigette Romanek, Carlos Eric Lopez, Carly Steel, Daniella Villegas, Elisa Sednaoui, Eric Buterbaugh, Eyal Booker, Fai Khadra, Gela Nash Taylor, Jeanne Yang, Josh Flagg, Leonardo Lawson, Michael Chow, Nausheen Shah, Paola Russo, Rickie de Sole, Storm Reid, and Vanessa Chow.

Finalists were selected by FTUS Board members and select Advisory Board members. The nominees were considered across four categories: Ready-to-Wear, Jewelry, Accessories and Graduate.

The Ready-to-Wear, Jewelry, Accessories and Graduate Awards winners will receive financial support and mentorship from industry leaders. 

• The finalists in the Ready-to-Wear category are; Rachel Scott of DIOTIMA, GRACE LING, Jakarie Whitaker of Hikari no Yami, Nana Kwame Adusei of Kwame Adusei
• The finalists in the Jewelry category are; Bernard James, Kia Schwaninger of Kia Schwan, Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz of Beck, Reut Ringel of Reut
• The finalists in the Accessories category are; Danielle Griffiths of CLYDE, PARADIS WINSLET, Marianna Senderkis of SENDERKIS, Michal Lifshitz of POEMET
• The finalists in the Graduate category are; Bashar Abouljoud, Bryan Barrientos, Eunhae Cho, Patrick Taylor

The 16 finalists from the Ready-to-Wear, Jewelry, Accessories and Graduate categories will also be considered for the Sustainability Award. 

Google Shopping is the presenting sponsor of the FTUS 2025 Awards, providing all winners access to a Google mentorship program built in partnership with FTUS. This program offers expert guidance on key aspects of the fashion and retail industries to support and elevate emerging talent within American design.

The finalists will showcase their work to the Fashion Trust U.S. panel on April 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, and the five chosen winners will be announced at the awards ceremony that evening.

Image credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty