Last night saw some of the industry's biggest names and some of the most exciting newcomers flock to Park Avenue for the anticipated CFDA Awards. It was fashion's big night out, and it felt like everyone was there.
Award ceremonies have always come with their own fair share of criticism, especially looking at prestigious awards in music and film including the Grammys and Academy Awards, because of the voting committee's extreme bias. In fashion, it has often resulted in the same few people being recognized over and over again, and has previously failed to recognize important POC designers – but this year's awards were anything but that.
Staged by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) and chairman Tom Ford, with Emily Blunt as this year's host, the ceremony highlighted new names such as Edvin Thompson for Theophilio, who took home the prize for American Emerging Designer of the Year.
Telfar Clemens received the American Accessories Designer of the Year award, which comes as no surprise following the immense success of his Telfar Tote, as well as recent collaborations with UGG.
The award for Womenswear and Menswear Designer of the Year went to Christopher John Rogers and Emily Bode's BODE, respectively.
On the international level, Demna Gvasalia received International Women's Designer of the Year, and Grace Wales Bonner won Men's Designer. With Gvasalia's huge success at Balenciaga this year ranging from his first couture collection to collaborations with Fortnite and The Simpsons, it is a well-deserved recognition.
Grace Wales Bonner receiving the award is incredibly exciting, only launching her eponymous label in 2014, and has since become one of the most exciting designers to watch, emphasizing identity, sexuality, and race through her many projects. Following Daniel Lee's surprise departure from Bottega Veneta, the rumor mill is churning (or perhaps we just really wish it would be true) that Bonner could succeed him at the house.
If the fashion industry got to choose? She'd be a great fit at Burberry – just ask Twitter. Regardless of her next steps, we know for a fact that it will be big.
Plenty of other awards were given out, with Zendaya being honored as Fashion Icon. With red carpet get-ups from Loewe, Valentino, Balmain, Rick Owens, and so on in her arsenal, it was about time her status as the one and only was solidified.
Anya Taylor-Joy took home the Face of the Year Award, and Patagonia the Environmental Sustainability Award.
All-in-all, the night was a big one for fashion. It's exciting to see new and young talent being recognized, and it is also long overdue. We're hoping to see more up-and-coming names receive more recognition by those at the top, because they are undoubtedly the future of fashion.
