Rachel Scott of Diotima won the CFDA American Womenswear Designer of the Year award at a ceremony held Monday night at the American Museum of Natural History. Lupita Nyong’o presented the prize to Scott, who previously won the award in 2024.
Born in Jamaica, Scott was selected over Catherine Holstein of Khaite, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera. Her Diotima collections bring together Jamaican artisanal techniques and tailored designs. Scott also won the CFDA Emerging Designer of the Year award in 2024 and is creative director of Proenza Schouler.
Ralph Lauren received the American Menswear Designer of the Year award, presented by Matt Damon. The other nominees were Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School New York, Thom Browne, Todd Snyder and Willy Chavarria. Lauren had previously won the menswear award in 1996 and 2007.
Ana Khouri was named American Accessories Designer of the Year. The Brazilian-born sculptor and high-jewelry designer, who is based in New York, received the award from Naomi Osaka and Joseph Altuzarra. Her fellow nominees included Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen of The Row, Raul Lopez of Luar, Sophie Buhai and Stuart Vevers of Coach.
Colleen Allen, a Brooklyn-based designer and founder of her namesake womenswear label, won the Google American Emerging Designer of the Year Award. She was chosen over Emily Dawn Long, Julia Ferentinos of Juju Vera, Julian Louie of Aubero and Zane Li of Lii. Allen was also a nominee for the 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.
Other honors went to Tory Burch, who received the Positive Change Award, and photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, who received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. Anthony Vaccarello was named International Designer of the Year, while Linda Fargo received the Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert.
Eva Chen received the Media Award honoring Eugenia Sheppard, and Susan Cianciolo was recognized with the Isabel Toledo Board of Directors’ tribute. Gap Inc. won the Innovation Award Presented by Amazon Fashion, accepted by Richard Dickson and Zac Posen. Architect Peter Marino received the Fashion Icon Award. Keke Palmer hosted the CFDA Fashion Awards, presented by Amazon Fashion.
Sources: WWD.