New York’s Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) has announced the nominees for its 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards, which take place June 6,2017. Nominees are voted on by the organization’s membership, which consists of more than 500 of the top U.S. womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers, as well as top retailers, journalists, stylists and influencers.
The event includes a Fashion Icon Award (announced prior to the event), which notably went to Beyoncé in 2016. This year it will be awarded to Franca Sozzani, who passed away in December 2016.
One of the ongoing complaints about the awards is that the same designers are nominated year after year. For the top three awards, we included last year’s nominees and winners to compare, and indeed, there are quite a few repeat nominations.
There are some newcomers, including new Calvin Klein designer Raf Simons, who is nominated for Designer of the Year for both womenswear and menswear. Given that he provides fresh blood and he’s highly regarded, we’re going to go out on the smallest of limbs and say he will win at least one award.
To address some of the criticism around sameness, the CFDA did add an emerging talent award this year, and we’re excited to see one of our faves, Virgil Abloh of Off White is up for an award.
Given the mean things Simons said about Abloh, will there be a moment when they meet, shake hands and let bygones be bygones or will they stay camped at their respective white-cloth-covered tables, eating their baked chicken, with each icily pretending the other doesn’t exist If the person who handles seating arrangements had a sense of humor, they’d at least be sitting at adjacent tables.
Check out the nominees and honorees for 2017, as well as last year’s nominees and winners for the top awards below.
Womenswear Designer of the Year: 2017
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler
Joseph Altuzarra for Altuzarra
Marc Jacobs
Raf Simons for Calvin Klein
2016: Marc Jacobs
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler
Joseph Altuzarra for Altuzarra;
Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte
Marc Jacobs
Menswear Designer of the Year: 2017
Raf Simons for Calvin Klein
Robert Geller
Thom Browne
Tim Coppens
Todd Snyder
2016: Thom Browne
Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School
Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone
Thom Browne
Tim Coppens
Todd Snyder
Accessory Designer of the Year: 2017
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Irene Newirth
Paul Andrew
Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel
Stuart Vevers for Coach
2016: Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Irene Neuwirth
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler
Joseph Altuzarra for Altuzarra
Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel
Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent: 2017
Gabriela Hearst, Laura Kim, and Fernando Garcio for Monse
Laura Vassar Brock and Christopher Brock for Brock Collection
Sander Lak for Sies Marjan
Virgil Abloh for Off-White
Swarovski Award for Positive Change: 2017
Kenneth Cole
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: 2017
Rick Owens
Founder’s Award: 2017
Pat McGrath
International Award: 2017
Demna Gvasalia for Vetements and Balenciaga
Board of Directors’ Tribute: 2017
Cecile Richards
Gloria Steinem
Janelle Monae
Fashion Icon Award: 2017
Franca Sozzani
