Raf Simons, Supreme big winners at CFDA Awards 2018

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Jun 5, 2018

Raf Simons has for a second time taken home the CFDA award for Womenswear Designer of the Year for his work with Calvin Klein, after winning the top honor for both women's and men's in 2017.

The Belgian designer beat out fellow womenswear designers Gabriela Hearst, Marc Jacobs, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row.

However, the 2018 CFDA Awards, hosted by Issa Rae and held at the Brooklyn Museum, found Supreme founding designer James Jebbia to be worthy of the Menswear Designer of the Year Award this year.

Jebbia took down fellow men's designer nominees Virgil Abloh, Thom Browne and Tom Ford.

Accessory Designer of the Year went to The Row, helmed by Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, while Sander Lak of Sies Marjan won the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent.

“The range and depth of talent honoured at the CFDA Fashion Awards is the perfect proof that American fashion is a global powerhouse,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA, in a statement.

As previously announced, Ralph Lauren was ceremonially recognised on the night, receiving a 'CFDA Members Salute' from fellow designers Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Thom Browne, Jeffrey Banks, John Varvatos, Donna Karan, Marcus Wainwright, Jason Wu, and Diane von Furstenberg. 

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian received the controversial Influencer Award, the first time the CFDA presented such an award.

In addition, Naomi Campbell was named Fashion Icon, Edward Enninful was honored with Media Award, while Donatella Versace was recognized with this year’s International Award.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Narciso Rodriguez; the Founder’s Award in honour of Eleanor Lambert was presented to Carolina Herrera; and the Swarovski Award for Positive Change was presented to Diane von Furstenberg.