It’s rather apt that Aussie jeweller Jordan Askill is best known for his signature heart rings, given how much the fashion world currently adores him.

The New York-based Sydney native has spent the last decade making his mark in sculpture and fine jewellery to critical acclaim, culminating in a 2015 British Fashion Award for Emerging Accessory Design. Along the way, he’s clocked up a swag of big brand collaborations with the likes of Topshop, Georg Jensen, Swarovski and even served as a guest costume designer for the Sydney Dance Company.

But news this week that he’s in the running for one of the most prestigious fashion awards in the world, if not the most cashed-up, finally puts him on the path to becoming a mainstream international name.

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Australian designer Jordan Askill

Askill has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which boasts a cash prize of more than half a million Australian dollars (US$400,000) for the winner and almost $200,000 (US$150,000) for each of two runners up, underwritten by sponsors including the Coach Foundation, J. Crew, IMG Fashion, MAC Cosmetics, Saks Fifth Avenue and, of course, American Vogue.

As impressive as the prize purse is the fact past winners Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School (2013), Paul Andrew (2014) and Jonathan Simkhai (2015) have gone on to become big names and – even more critically – commercial success stories.

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“Humbled to be named one of the finalists for the 2017 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund,” Askill – best known as Jordy to friends – said on his Instagram. While he may stand out from other finalists for being focused on jewellery rather than ready-to-wear, fashion design is an arena he’s equally familiar with.

After starting his career in 2000 as an intern with the late, great Alexander McQueen in London, he eventually became lead designer for cult denim label Ksubi in Sydney before moving to Paris to work in the Dior Homme design team for four years. Fast forward a decade more past the decision to swap clothes for sculpted bling, Askill was invited to join the CDFA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) as a member.

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Also interesting is the fact he is brother to equally talented film directors Lorin and Daniel Askill – the latter being the creative behind Sia’s most famous music videos, including Chandelier and Elastic Heart starring Maddie Ziegler and Shia LeBouf – and often joins them as art director on film projects and installations.

Still, sculpting is his first and foremost love – for now. “I always recreated things when I was young… I was drawn to fashion design but it was through this I realised I wanted to create things that were timeless and less seasonal,” he has said in the past of his love for jewellery design.

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Other finalists include Matthew Harris of Mateo New York, Eli Azran of RTA, Telfar Clemens of Telfar LLC, Sandy Liang, Ahlem Manai-Platt of Ahlem, Becca McCharen-Tran of Chromat, Christopher Bevans of Dyne, Victor Glemaud, and Patric DiCaprio, Bryn Taubensee, David Moses and Claire Sully of Vaquera.

Judges for the award, announced at a gala on November 6 include, amongst others, Joseph Altuzarra and Diane von Furstenberg. Watch this space for the results come November. Meanwhile, our we’ll remain card-carrying members of Team Jordy.