From left, looks from the fall 2012 collections of Wes Gordon, A.L.C., and Suno.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue have announced the new crop of finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund initiative. Now in its ninth year, the program provides financial support and business mentorship for emerging designers. Among the past winners are Joseph Altuzarra, Alexander Wang, Sophie Theallet, and Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler. The 2012 finalists are:
• Andrea Lieberman – A.L.C.
• Greg Armas – Assembly New York
• Sofia Sizzi – Giulietta
• Justin Salguero, Daniel Silberman, and Alina Silberman – Illesteva
• Jennifer Fisher – Jennifer Fisher Jewelry
• Jennifer Meyer Maguire – Jennifer Meyer
• Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty – Suno
• Tabitha Simmons
• Greg Chait – The Elder Statesman
• Wes Gordon

The finalists were selected by a committee of fashion power players that includes Vogue‘s Anna Wintour, whose tireless championing of the initiative has resulted in similar prizes across the globe, and CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg. Later this month, the group will meet with each of the finalists to review their current collections and conduct in-depth interviews (with $300,000 up for grabs, there’s no pressure) before embarking on site visits to their design studios (again, no pressure). A design project with Tiffany & Co. is in the works, and a Fashion Fund Finalists’ fashion show is planned for October is Los Angeles. The winner(s) will be announced in New York City on November 13.