For First Time In History CFDA Recognizes Three Black Designers With Top Awards

New York-based Council of Fashion Designers of America today (September 14, 2020) announced the winners for its fashion award nominees. Normally held with a splashy, red carpet event held in June, CFDA‘s annual award show was moved out to September and changed to a virtual event because of the impact of COVID-19.

President of the CFDA since June 2019, Tom Ford announced the award winners on social media today. When nominees were first announced, Ford received some criticism as a nominees for the organization’s two most prestigious awards, an inclusion viewed as untoward given he’s not only the leader of the organization but also because he received a lifetime achievement award in 2014.

The womenswear designer of the year was awarded to Gabriela Hearst, who was born in Uruguay. Her competition within the category included Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row, Brandon Maxwell, Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford.

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CFDA American Menswear Designer of the Year 2020. My pops still won’t understand. ❤️

A post shared by Kerby Jean-Raymond (@kerbito) on Sep 14, 2020 at 10:55am PDT

CFDA’s menswear designer of the year award was won by Kerby Jean-Raymond led Pyer Moss, which faced Emily Adams Bode for Bode, Thom Browne, Todd Snyder, Tom Ford.

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🔥🌍🖤 #cfdaawards vid: @raydrizzyjay

A post shared by @ telfarglobal on Sep 14, 2020 at 9:24am PDT

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❣️ The past year and a half has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and I wouldn’t have been able to get to this point of the ride without my NYC family and friends. Thank you for being patient with me, seeing me, keeping me grounded, and always inspiring me to do my best and encourage my vision. The people who I’m lucky enough to surround myself with come from differing backgrounds, walks of life, express themselves in myriads of ways, and allow me to see the world with increased fullness and visualize the work that we do through an eclectic set of perspectives. My friends and family encourage me to manifest my singular American Dream, and I feel that it’s increasingly important to emphasize that specificity and clarity of vision, especially today. I’m incredibly humbled and honored to receive the CFDA Emerging Designer of the Year Award for 2020. Thank you very much to Chairman @tomford and all of the hardworking folks at the @CFDA for your tremendous encouragement and continued support. Thank ya’ll for getting it. 🌀

A post shared by christopher john rogers 🌈 (@christopherjohnrogers) on Sep 14, 2020 at 11:41am PDT

In a year in which multiple fashion publications, labels and organizations admitted they need to do more to amplify the work and opportunities for Black people in the industry, it’s noteworthy that the CFDA recognized the work of Telfar as led by Telfar Clemens as the accessory designer of the year and Christopher John Rogers as the emerging designer of the year.

With Black designers Jean-Raymond, Clemens and Rogers all taking home prizes, it marks the first time in the history of the CFDA it has awarded three Black designers at an annual event.

Black designer Jean-Raymond and Telfar Clemens were both nominated for awards last year, but this is the first year they’re taking home the award.

The news follows the promotion of CaSandra Diggs, who is a Black woman, to president of the organization back in August, along with the September start up of a Black advisory board responsible for all CFDA efforts on inclusivity, diversity and equality.

Find the full list of 2020 nominees and winners below.

American Womenswear Designer of the Year
Winner Gabriela Hearst
Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Brandon Maxwell
Marc Jacobs
Tom Ford

American Menswear Designer of the Year
Winner: Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss
Emily Adams Bode for Bode
Thom Browne
Todd Snyder
Tom Ford

American Accessories Designer of the Year
Winner: Telfar Clemens for Telfar
Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Gabriela Hearst
Jennifer Fisher for Jennifer Fisher Jewelry
Stuart Vevers for Coach

American Emerging Designer of the Year
Winner: Christopher John Rogers
Kenneth Nicholson
Peter Do
Reese Cooper
Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto for Staud

Global Women’s Designer of the Year
Winner: Pierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino
Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta
Dries Van Noten
Miuccia Prada for Prada
Rick Owens

Global Men’s Designer of the Year
Winner: Kim Jones for Dior
Craig Green
Dries Van Noten
Jonathan Anderson for Loewe
Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton