The Council of Fashion Designers of America Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund announced a $6.25 million partnership to launch CFDA x BEF: The Next Thread Initiative, a first-of-its-kind effort to advance innovation and education in sustainable fashion. 

The Initiative will support independent designers and emerging talent who are redefining how fashion is made, produced, and consumed. Over three years, the collaboration will fund designer awards, student scholarships, and storytelling programs that highlight the creative and commercial potential of sustainability in fashion.

“This partnership provides designers and students with tangible support to build a more sustainable future for fashion,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). “Under Lauren Sánchez Bezos’s leadership, the Bezos Earth Fund is turning ideas into action and bringing innovation forward. We’re proud to work together to drive change across our industry. The CFDA is grateful for this support and looks forward to collaborating with Lauren and the Bezos Earth Fund team. This Initiative aligns with a core pillar of the CFDA and builds on more than a decade of our progress advancing sustainability in American fashion.”

The partnership will support a range of efforts designed to empower sustainable innovation across the U.S. fashion ecosystem:

•  Independent Designer Awards — Grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 will recognize American designers leading the way in sustainable materials, circular design, and low-impact production. Exceptional innovators may receive additional funding to scale their work.
• Scholarships for Aspiring Designers — Scholarships of $25,000–$75,000 will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing sustainable fashion design, helping remove financial barriers and strengthen the industry’s talent pipeline.
• Events and Storytelling — CFDA will showcase grantees and program learnings through curated events, exhibitions, and digital storytelling, evolving from industry-focused engagement to public showcases of sustainable design excellence.

“Fashion has always been a mirror of culture — and now, it can be a catalyst for change,” said Tom Taylor, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. “Together with the CFDA Foundation, we’re investing in the next generation of designers and innovators building a more sustainable future for fashion.”

Insights from this Initiative will inform future Earth Fund investments in materials science, manufacturing innovation, and supply chain transformation, while reinforcing CFDA’s leadership in sustainability, education, and creative advancement.

Together, the organizations aim to expand the choices available to consumers seeking sustainable fashion — making it possible to embrace style without compromising affordability, quality, or the planet.