Fashion award presented

Seven fledgling designers have been awarded $25,000 each as part of the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation prize.

Given each year to newcomers taking part in New York Fashion Week, the prize aims to support emerging talent in the US fashion industry.

The wine company has been choosing designers to sponsor at the Manhattan event for the past seven years, previously championing the work of Derek Lam, Zac Posen and Proenza Schouler.

This year's recipients include womenswear designers Wayne D Lee, Alexander Wand and Jose Ramon Reyes, as well as menswear label Loden Dager.

"The Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation has become the benchmark for new and exciting talent discovery as each year the foundation unveils the next group of emerging designers to impact the fashion world," explained Ecco Domani's marketing director Patrick Coyle.

Fashion foundation judge and editor of the International Fashion Syndicate, Marylou Luther, added: "The emerging designers who will receive these awards are our future."

Excitement is already building for February's fashion week event in Bryant Park, with front-row tickets for the larger shows in high demand.

Two passes for Derek Lam's show were sold at a charity auction in the ski resort of Aspen for $31,000 last week.