Published
September 3, 2026
The CFDA and Genesis have awarded three emerging designers equal funding and support as part of the fourth annual AAPI Design + Innovation Grant, under a revamped structure.
(Left to right) 2026 CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant recipients Saber Ahmed, Azeeza Khan and Shao Yang at Genesis House in New York City – Genesis House
Azeeza Khan of Azeeza, Saber Ahmed of Glass Cypress and Shao Yang of Shao New York have been selected for the fourth annual AAPI Design + Innovation Grant.
Unlike past editions, rather than selecting a single winner, the 2026-2027 program is providing the same level of funding and prize support to all three participants. Each designer will receive $60,000 from Genesis House to develop their design challenge and support the growth of their business, along with mentorship.
“Azeeza, Saber and Shao represent three distinct points of view in American fashion, each bringing their own perspective on culture, craft and contemporary design,” said Steven Kolb, CEO and president of the CFDA.
“As we enter the fourth year of our program with Genesis House, we’re excited to support Azeeza, Saber and Shao through a more collective model that gives each designer the resources and mentorship to develop their individual creative vision. We look forward to seeing how they interpret this year’s theme, ‘Second Nature,’ and where that exploration takes their work.”
Khan is the founder and creative director of Chicago-based womenswear label Azeeza, known for its vibrant hand-dyed silks, modern feminine silhouettes and focus on ethical sourcing and size inclusivity. The brand is stocked at retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue and Kith, with Khan’s designs worn by figures including Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez.
Ahmed is the Houston-based co-founder and creative director of Glass Cypress, an independent label drawing on his Bangladeshi heritage and collaborations with artisans. The brand has presented collections in Paris and is distributed across the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Yang, founder and creative director of Shao New York, explores Asian heritage through the lens of New York culture and precision tailoring. A Parsons-trained designer, Yang also founded bespoke tailoring house The Tailory New York. His designs have been worn by figures including Ronny Chieng, Daniel Dae Kim and Arden Cho.
Previous recipients of the grant include Grace Ling of Grace Ling, Olivia Cheng of Dauphinette and Terrence Zhou of Bad Binch TongTong.
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