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Meet the SNR40 Judges

 

Michael H. Berkowitz

Michael H. Berkowitz is a design director and creative consultant whose work bridges design, innovation, and brand strategy across more than 30 years in the global apparel industry, including leadership roles with Calvin Klein, Nike, Gap, Tom Ford, and lululemon. As founder of Berkowitz Studio, he guides concept-to-market development across underwear, activewear, and knit sportswear, integrating product design with brand vision, identity, logo development, and packaging for both emerging and established brands and retailers. His contributions include enduring products such as the Calvin Klein boxer brief and Nike Tempo running short designs that have remained in continuous production for decades and are worn by millions worldwide.

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Luke Hall

I graduated with a degree in Menswear in 2000 at Central Saint Martins. I worked directly for Joe Casely Hayford after graduating, designing men鈥檚 and women's. In my early 20s I lived in Italy working for a small company and then moved back to England where I worked on my own label Luke Hall, for almost 4 years. In 2007 I moved to NYC. I worked at a few places before finding my spot at Ann Inc in 2011. I was hired as Senior Designer of woven tops at LOFT, then after 3 years took on dresses. Later I was given knit tops, later sweaters and finally all of sportswear. In 2018 I was made VP over Ann Taylor Design where I worked for two years. I then led the Loft Outlet and Ann Taylor Factory design, print, concept and raw materials teams for 5 years. I am now leading J. Crew Factory Women's Design. Fun fact- Brielle Ohlsen who interned at Ann Taylor in 2024, and whom I critiqued last year Marist, is on my current team!

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Francesca Liberatore

Francesca Liberatore is the Creative Director of her namesake label, founded in 2009 following her win of the Next Generation Award by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. She has shown consistently at Milan Fashion Week and was featured on the New York Fashion Week calendar from 2014 to 2018 after receiving the DHL Exported Award with IMG Fashion. She currently presents her womenswear collections in Milan. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Liberatore trained with Viktor & Rolf and Jean Paul Gaultier, and later served as Head Designer of Brioni Womenswear. She has been recognized as one of FORTUNE鈥檚 Most Powerful Women (2023), is a TEDx speaker, and a recipient of multiple honors including the Premio Margutta Roma and ME Fashion Award. An active educator and global voice in fashion, she is Head of the Fashion Department at Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, teaches at NABA Milan, and serves on the Marist Fashion Advisory Board.

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Julia K. Luff

I am a Textile & Concept Designer at Free People (URBN), where I lead quarterly fabric trend development and deliver largescale concept presentations that shape our seasonal direction for the Free People collection. My daily work is a mix of technical design and artistry, specializing in wovens, knits, jacquards, and sweaters using Ned Graphics and AI. I鈥檓 a proud alumna of Marist College, where I earned my BFA in Fashion Design, and I later received my MFA in Fiber from SCAD. Outside of the office, my heart is in "slow" textiles. My master鈥檚 thesis, Beyond the Mend, which was a Dorothy Waxman International Design Prize finalist鈥攆ocused on the narrative power of reimagined materials through historic mending techniques. Whether I鈥檓 hand-weaving, machine knitting, spinning "mill end" wool yarns, or visiting the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival, I am constantly exploring how fibers tell a story. You can see some of my process and recent projects on my Instagram, @julialuff_fibers and on my website http://www.julialuff.com As a judge, I鈥檒l be looking closely at your material choices and the "why" behind your fabrics. I love to see designers who treat the textile as the foundation of the story, balancing technical integrity with a clear creative vision. I know exactly how much heart goes into these final months, and I can鈥檛 wait to see the incredible work you鈥檝e created!

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Erin Malaney

Erin Onofrio Malaney is a fashion designer and sustainability strategist with over 15 years of experience designing womenswear in New York City. She has worked across luxury, contemporary, and mass-market brands, including Kay Unger New York, Ann Taylor, Kohl鈥檚, White House Black Market, Anthropologie, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue leading creative and product development teams from concept through production. Over the course of her career, Erin has designed for notable celebrity collections including Serena Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Ashley Graham, and Iman bringing strong concept and craftsmanship to their namesake collections. Trained in apparel merchandising and design production at Auburn University, Erin鈥檚 foundation is rooted in draping, sketching, fit, and material development paired with a strong understanding of merchandising and business strategy. Through firsthand experience in the industry, Erin became aware of fashion's environmental and social impact, which led her to pursue an MBA in Sustainability at Bard College with a focus on circular value chains. Today, Erin specializes in translating sustainability from ambition into action, helping organizations build better products, reduce risk and unlock long-term value. Erin is also passionate about education and mentorship, serving as a Fashion Scholarship Fund design judge and mentor since 2015, guest lecturing and speaking publicly on sustainability, AI, and the future of design education. She is committed to inspiring the next generation of design talent shaping an innovative, responsible and impactful fashion industry.

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Digital Portfolio Judges

 

Patrick Cupid

Patrick Cupid is a New York鈥揵ased designer and founder of his eponymous brand, Patrick Cupid, established in 2017. With more than two decades in the fashion industry, he has become known for blending history, culture, and art into modern collections that embody a refined sense of American chic. Educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, and Politecnico di Milano, Cupid combines technical precision with a multicultural design vision shaped by his New York heritage. His career began in the early 2000s, consulting for international and domestic labels and producing runway events during New York Fashion Week, listed on the Official Fashion Calendar. Early accolades included being a Gen Art Styles finalist for women鈥檚 eveningwear (2007), receiving the Fashion Institute of Technology Critics鈥� Choice Award (2013), and presenting at Romanian Fashion Philosophy (2017). Since launching his brand, Cupid has been recognized for his innovation and resilience. In 2020, he was named Industry. Fashion鈥檚 One to Watch and received the CFDA Common Thread Harlem Fashion Row Grant. In 2022, he joined the CFDA Interim Member Program. Patrick is a member of the 麻豆视频 Fashion Advisory Board.

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Iris Lee

Iris Lee graduated with a degree in Studio Art from NYU before relocating to Paris to pursue fashion design. She studied at ESMOD and Studio Bercot, and upon graduating, completed apprenticeships at Loulou de la Falaise, Chlo茅, and C茅line. After four years abroad, she returned to New York and began her industry career at 3.1 Phillip Lim. She joined Veronica Beard in 2011, where she has been part of the brand's remarkable growth from a team of fewer than 10 to over 200 people at the corporate office.

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Lynn Hiriak

Lynne Hiriak is a senior design executive with over 25 years of experience driving product innovation across the global fashion industry. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Design at J.Crew Factory, leading Design for women鈥檚, men鈥檚, and crewcuts鈥� Apparel and Accessories for nearly a decade. Prior to J. Crew, Lynne founded the brand CARDIGAN and built a consulting practice, advising both emerging and established brands - including Michael Kors and Ralph Rucci - on design, development, and product strategy. She also served as an advisor with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), mentoring startups within New York鈥檚 fashion ecosystem.

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Shawn Reddy

With over 16 years of experience across designer labels, global luxury houses, vertical retailers, and contemporary brands, Shawn Reddy has cultivated a deep, nuanced understanding of both the creative process and the strategic impact of design. Raised in Boston, he moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design, graduating top of his class and earning early recognition from the CFDA before beginning his career at Calvin Klein, where he refined his minimalist sensibility and foundation in ready-to-wear. He went on to hold key roles at Derek Lam, Michael Kors Collection, and Proenza Schouler, experiences that positioned him for early leadership; as Head of Design at 10 Crosby, he evolved the brand鈥檚 identity while expanding across categories, and later, at Club Monaco, he led Women鈥檚 Design, rebuilding the team, sharpening the brand鈥檚 point of view, and reestablishing creative direction through product and storytelling. In 2025, he consulted for Rachel Comey, and in 2026, he returned to Proenza Schouler as Head of Design, where he now leads both the Collection and White Label, driving creative vision end-to-end while aligning design with business strategy and brand growth.

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