New in town; They came, they showed, they conquered their nerves.(Erin Fetherston )

Byline: Mark Holgate

Erin Fetherston has achieved rather a lot in her relatively short career. The Paris-based, California-born designer first presented twice during the French capital's haute couture season. She then took her third collection to Los Angeles with an Ellen von Unwerth-directed short film that starred one Kirsten Dunst and many, many dresses. So it's entirely possible that being squeezed into New York's busy, busy, busy show schedule for spring 2007 would rate a relatively less-thrilling experience. Fetherston, however, sees it quite differently. "I felt like I was embraced by New York," she says. "The support for young designers is incredible. There's nothing like it in Paris."

Fetherston, whose collection nodded to next season's shorter, voluminous dresses, soft powdery pastels, and floral applique embellishments, is not alone. Once the world saw how New York nurtures its emerging indigenous talents-Proenza Schouler, Peter Som, and Derek Lam, not so long ago-the city quickly became host to more rising-star international designers than anywhere else. Also native to New York have been successful initiatives like the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, and UPS's decision to invite ten new designers, from both home and abroad, to show in Bryant Park. That's how Fetherston, as ...