A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
 | |
| Abbreviation | CFDA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1962 |
| Founder | Eleanor Lambert |
| Type | Trade association |
| Legal status | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | To strengthen the impact of American fashion in the global economy |
| Location | |
| Fields | Fashion |
Membership (2019) | 484[1] |
Chairman | Thom Browne |
CEO | Steven Kolb |
| Website | cfda |
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), founded in 1962 by publicist Eleanor Lambert,[2] and headquartered in Manhattan, is a not-for-profit trade association comprising a membership of over 450 American fashion and accessory designers. The organization promotes American designers in the global economy.
In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, the organization develops future American design talent through scholarships and resources in high schools, colleges, and postgraduate schools. The CFDA also provides funding and business opportunities for working designers. Through the CFDA Foundation, the organization supports charitable causes.
History
The first president of the CFDA was Sydney Wragge[3] (from 1962 until 1965). Steven Kolb has been the CEO since 2006. As of January 2023, Thom Browne is the group's chairman; he follows Tom Ford, who served as chairman for three years. Additionally, Diane von Furstenberg served as chairman for 13 years from 2006 until 2019.[4]
Cazabat Jean-Michel has been its member since 2011.[5]
The following people were founding members of the CFDA from 1962:
- Bill Blass[6]
- Donald Brooks[7]
- Betty Carol[7]
- Jane Derby[7]
- Luis Estevez[8]
- David Evins[7]
- Rudi Gernreich[6]
- Bud Kilpatrick[7]
- Helen Lee[7]
- Jean Louis[7]
- John Moore[7]
- Norman Norell[6]
- Sylvia Pedlar[7]
- Sarmi[7]
- Arnold Scaasi[6]
- Adele Simpson[7]
- Gustave Tassell
- Pauline Trigère[6]
- Sydney Wragge[7]
- Ben Zuckerman[7]
CFDA Fashion Awards
The CFDA Fashion Awards were founded in 1980 with the first awards given in 1981. They honor and showcase excellence in fashion design.[9] The CFDA Fashion Awards were created by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. They have been called "the Oscars of fashion".[10][11] Prior to the establishment of the CFDA Awards, the Coty Awards fulfilled a similar role until they ended in 1985, with the final Coty Awards bestowed in September 1984.[12][13] In 1997, the CFDA Fashion Awards made a decision to open the doors to young and upcoming designers.[14][15]
Nominations are submitted by the Fashion Guild, a group of over 1,500 CFDA members including fashion editors, retailers, and stylists.[16] Award winners are determined by vote and announced at an annual black tie event held in Manhattan. Award winners receive a trophy made by the New York firm Society Awards.[17]
A number of honorary awards are also presented on the night. As of 2023 these include the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, named for the four-time CFDA Fashion Award winner; the Media Award, given in honor of Eugenia Sheppard, the influential New York Herald Tribune journalist; the Founders Award, given in honor of CFDA founder Eleanor Lambert; The Board of Director’s Tribute Award; the International Award, and the Fashion Icon award, which was first introduced in 2010.
For the 2022 and 2023 editions, Amazon Fashion sponsored the event.[18][19]
1980s
| Year | Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award | Womenswear Designer | Menswear Designer | Accessory Designer | Emerging Talent Award
for Ready-to-Wear |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Fernando Sanchez | Jhane Barnes | [20] | |||
| 1982 | ||||||
| 1983 | Patricia Underwood | [7] | ||||
| 1984 | James Galanos | |||||
| 1985 | Katharine Hepburn | Donna Karan | ||||
| 1986 | Bill Blass | |||||
| 1987 | Giorgio Armani | Ronaldus Shamask | Marc Jacobs | |||
| 1988 | Richard Avedon; Nancy Reagan | Bill Robinson | ||||
| 1989 | Oscar de la Renta | Isaac Mizrahi | Joseph Abboud | [21] |
1990s
| Year | Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award | Womenswear Designer | Menswear Designer | Accessory Designer | Emerging Talent Award
for Ready-to-Wear |
International Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Martha Graham | Donna Karan | Joseph Abboud | Christian Francis Roth | |||
| 1991 | Ralph Lauren | Isaac Mizrahi | Roger Forsythe | Karl Lagerfeld | |||
| 1992 | |||||||
| 1993 | |||||||
| 1994 | |||||||
| 1995 | |||||||
| 1996 | Shew York | Donna Karan | Daryl Kerrigan for Daryl K (womenswear) | ||||
| 1997 | Geoffrey Beene | Marc Jacobs | John Bartlett | John Galliano
( |
[15] | ||
| 1999 | Yves Saint Laurent | Michael Kors | Calvin Klein | Yohji Yamamoto
( |
2000s
2010s
2010 saw the introduction of the honarary Fashion Icon award with model Iman being the first recipient.[24] In 2017, the CFDA introduced a single unified award for Emerging Talent that applies across womenswear, menswear and accessory design. Additionally, the CFDA added the Award for Positive Change, which honors an individual in the U.S. fashion industry who has made a positive impact on American communities and has improved the welfare of others.[25]
For their 15th edition in 2016, and after seven years at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center, the CFDA Fashion Awards moved venue to the Hammerstein Ballroom.[26] In 2018 and 2019, the award ceremonies were held at the Brooklyn Museum.[27]