DALLAS, Dec 22, 2004/ FW/ --- Six emerging designers just received a boost on their careers and on their business from the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation by giving them a grant of $25,000 apiece – a chance to show their designs during the upcoming New York Fall 2005 fashion season.

Thakoon, CostelloTagliapietra, Jasmin Shokrian, Mary Ping, and Richard Chai in the women's design category, and Trovata, in the men's design category are the winners of the fourth annual Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Design Competition.

From a pool of design hopefuls, 25 semi-finalists were chosen and judged based on the samples of their most recent ready-to-wear women's and men's collections.

"The Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation continues to grow each year and we're thrilled with both the response from the fashion community and the success of past winners who have gone on to build strong careers in the industry," says David Lane, Marketing Director for Ecco Domani wines in a statement. "We wish this year's group of winners the best of luck!"

As part of the agreement in accepting the grant, winners will showcase their Fall 2005 collections during New York Fashion Week slated on Feb 4 – 11, 2005.

Former winners are: Zac Posen, Harmon, Libertine, Project Alabama, Palmer Jones, Proenza Schouler, Doo.Ri, Cloak, Vasseur Esquivel, Peter Som, Mark Kroeker, Tess Giberson, Derek Lam, Jeffrey Chow, and the design collective, As Four.

For more information about Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation, please log on http://www.eccodomani.com/.