Asian-American Men Dominate New York's Future Fashion Landscape

Jason Wu,Richard Chai and Alexander Wang, from left, after winning best new designer awards at an industry ceremony in June. Photo: Mimi CrawfordDolceTracker| In June 2010, the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded its three top prizes to Asian-American men. The three $25,000 scholarships awarded at the event also went to designers of Asian heritage.

At Parsons the New School for Design, roughly 70 percent of its international fashion students come from Asia. At the Fashion Institute of Technology, 23 percent of the nearly 1,200 students now enrolled are either Asian or Asian-American.

Another New York Fashion Week kicks off in hours. The names dominating the next generation of American fashion designers are Asian: Jason Wu, Richard Chai, Alexander Wang, Philip Lim, Derek Lam, Thakoon Panichgul, Prabal Gurung.