When Greg Chait of The Elder Statesman was named the winner of the ninth CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund we’re not gonna lie–we were a little surprised. His line of luxurious hand-spun cashmere blankets and knits beat out bigger brands with more buzz like SUNO, Wes Gordon, and even Voguette Tabitha Simmons.

So who is Greg Chait and how did he manage to snag one of the most prestigious awards in fashion? We caught Chait on the phone yesterday before he headed back out to Los Angeles, where his five-year-old line is based, to ask him. From interning with Whitney Houston to making blankets, Chait’s journey into the fashion industry may not have been direct but it just won him $300,000 and some serious recognition.

Read more →