GENESIS AND THE COUNCIL OF FASHION DESIGNERS OF AMERICA ANNOUNCE DESIGNERS SELECTED FOR FOURTH ANNUAL AAPI DESIGN + INNOVATION GRANT

• Azeeza Khan of Azeeza, Saber Ahmed of Glass Cypress and Shao Yang of SHAO New York selected for newly evolved program centered on community and cultural exchange

NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) today unveiled Azeeza Khan of Azeeza, Saber Ahmed of Glass Cypress and Shao Yang of SHAO New York as the designers selected for the fourth annual CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant, a program created to uplift and empower the next generation of AAPI voices in American fashion.

Marking a major evolution for the initiative, this year's program expands its investment in emerging talent by awarding equal grant funding and prize support to all three selected designers. Rooted in the belief that creativity thrives through community, the new model reflects Genesis House and the CFDA's shared commitment to fostering collaboration, cultural exchange and long-term creative development in place of traditional competition structures.

Each designer will receive $60,000 in funding from Genesis House to support the development of their design challenge and the growth of their business, as well as access to mentorship and guidance from a cross-disciplinary advisory board spanning fashion, retail, media and business. The 2026-2027 selected designers are:

• Azeeza Khan of Azeeza – Azeeza Khan is the founder and creative director of Azeeza, a Chicago-based womenswear label known for its vibrant hand-dyed silks, modern feminine silhouettes and commitment to ethical sourcing and size inclusivity. Her designs, carried at iconic retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Kith, have been worn by cultural icons including Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, and she was named Nike and CB2's first South Asian Design Collaborator, and leads several high-profile brand collaborations across fashion, retail and design.
• Saber Ahmed of Glass Cypress – Saber Ahmed is the Houston-based co-founder and creative director of Glass Cypress, an independent fashion label recognized for its distinctive approach to craftsmanship, storytelling and contemporary design. Drawing on his Bangladeshi heritage and close collaboration with artisans, Ahmed has built Glass Cypress into an internationally distributed brand with collections presented in Paris and retail partnerships spanning the United States, Europe and Asia.
• Shao Yang of SHAO New York – Shao Yang is the founder and creative director of SHAO New York, a fashion label that explores the intersection of Asian heritage, New York culture and precision tailoring. A Parsons-trained designer and founder of bespoke tailoring house The Tailory New York, Yang has earned recognition for collections that blend technical rigor with bold storytelling, with designs worn by notable figures including Ronny Chieng, Daniel Dae Kim and Arden Cho.

"At Genesis, we are untethered from legacy and believe innovation is fueled by the freedom to explore bold ideas," said Tedros Mengiste, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. "Azeeza, Saber and Shao each bring a distinct creative vision to this year's program, and we're investing in their growth while providing access to mentorship, resources and experiences to help bring their visions to life. As the program enters its fourth year, we look forward to seeing how each designer will break new ground in the world of fashion and design."

The designers will receive guidance from industry experts throughout the duration of the program, assisting them in honing their creative vision and providing business guidance. The 2026-2027 mentors and advisors include Steven Kolb (CEO and President, CFDA); Sara Kozlowski (SVP, Sustainability and Program Strategies, CFDA); Jodie Chan (Vice President, Marketing & Communications – Americas, Bottega Veneta); Eva Chen (VP of Fashion, Meta); Wen Zhou (CEO and President, 3.1 Phillip Lim); Thakoon Panichgul (Designer and Founder, Thakoon); Gena Smith (Chief Human Resources Officer, J.Crew); Caroline Maguire (Senior Fashion Director, Shopbop); and Jian DeLeon (Men's Fashion Director, Nordstrom).

"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."

Since launching in 2023, the CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant has celebrated emerging Asian American and Pacific Islander designers whose work pushes fashion forward through cultural perspective, innovation and craft. Building on the momentum of the past three years, the fourth edition of the program continues to create space for the next generation of creatives to explore the intersection of heritage, modernity and design — while expanding its creative framework to explore culture itself as a catalyst for innovation.

This year, the program will explore the theme "Second Nature," rooted in the idea that heritage is not locked in the past, but continues to inform how designers create with both instinct and intent. Throughout the program, designers will be invited to explore the guiding question: What happens when innovation begins with a cultural story?

As part of the program, Azeeza, Saber and Shao will travel to Seoul, South Korea, for an immersive cultural experience intended to help shape and inspire their collections through exposure to Korean design and craftsmanship. The program will culminate during AAPI Heritage Month in May 2027, when the designers will unveil their final collections at Genesis House in New York City.

Past recipients of the CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant include Grace Ling (Grace Ling), recognized for blending futurism, sustainability and Asian folklore through innovative 3D-printing techniques; Olivia Cheng (Dauphinette), whose collection Clove fused botanical craftsmanship with personal storytelling; and most recently, Terrence Zhou (Bad Binch TongTong), whose sculptural work explored heritage, transformation and Asian futurism.

About Genesis House
Genesis House is a sophisticated oasis in the Meatpacking District offering a curated escape into Korean hospitality, innovative design, and progressive experiences. Across three purposeful floors, guests discover a technology hub for creative collaboration, a design-forward vehicle showcase revealing Genesis engineering excellence, and the second-floor Restaurant, the jewel of the experience. Here, distinctly Korean hospitality comes alive through refined modern techniques that honor timeless recipes, each dish crafted with fresh, locally grown ingredients and served with exemplary Son-Nim, the philosophy of treating every guest as an honored visitor. Together, these spaces create a comprehensive immersion into Genesis brand values. For more information, visit www.genesishouse.com.

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Genesis Motor North America
Genesis is a new global automotive brand that delivers the highest standards of design, safety, refined performance, and innovation while looking towards a more sustainable future. Drawing from its cultural heritage and distinctly Korean hospitality, Genesis crafts experiences focused on customers as "Son-nim", or honored guests.

Genesis Motor North America offers a growing range of award-winning SUV, sedan, and electric models through its network of more than 190 independent U.S. retailers, in addition to its more than 30 Canadian agency distributors. Genesis now counts more than 100 standalone retail facilities across the North American region, with dozens more in development. Consumers can discover the brand through its many retail points, at Genesis House, the brand's flagship space in New York City, or online at www.genesis.com.

Please visit our media site for the latest news at www.genesisnewsusa.com (United States) and www.genesisnews.ca (Canada).

About Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962 whose membership includes America's foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. The CFDA strengthens the global impact of American fashion by amplifying creative excellence, business longevity, and positive impact.

SOURCE Genesis Motor America