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American designers are having their moment in the spotlight at New York Fashion Week and, in the process, they're building a bigger base of fans.

Steven Kolb, executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, said Thursday that he's heard from buyers at the most chic European stores that they're increasingly looking to the United States for new talent.

STEPHEN CHERNIN/Associated Press (ENLARGE)
Designers from the reality TV show "Project Runway" also presented a collection, judged by (from left) designer Michael Kors, host Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia of Elle magazine.
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"Today's designers are talented, and they're marketers. That's part of the excitement about American fashion — it's part of the enthusiasm. And the established designers really want to nurture the young designer. That's very American," he said.

From icons like Vera Wang to fashion newcomers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig of Marchesa — and the finalists from Bravo's reality show "Project Runway" — the collections shown this week offer something for every woman.

"There's long, there's short, there's clothes to grab and go. They reflect the modern way of dressing," said Style.com's executive fashion director Candy Pratts Price. "American fashion is alive and well."

— The Associated Press, AJC staffer Morieka Johnson contributed to this article.