CELEBRITY

CFDA Announces 2020 Fashion Awards Nominees

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In lieu of the usual gala, this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards will celebrate the world’s top fashion creatives using a small, virtual approach.

Like hundreds of other 2020 events, this year’s CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Fashion Awards were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The nonprofit organization elected to push the ceremony date back from June 8 to September 14. The format of the event will look a bit different, too— instead of the usual “fashion prom” gala and award ceremony, winners will be announced on social media and the CFDA website.

Despite the cancellation of in-person celebrations, the 2020 awards will still be groundbreaking. In place of the usual flamboyance, the CFDA has announced that the event will focus on supporting designers impacted by the pandemic and addressing racial inequalities in the industry. 

The CFDA has also removed several award categories from previous years to create a more focused event. According to Harpers Baazar, the organization has removed the Founder’s Award, the Award for Positive Change, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Fashion Icon Award from this year’s lineup. The only accolade that remains is Designer of the Year, which is split into six categories: American Womenswear, American Menswear, American Accessories, American Emerging, and the new Global Men’s and Global Women’s categories. 

The CFDA announced the nominees for the 2020 awards on July 20. Fashion-lovers can view the full list on the CFDA website.

This year’s nominees include some long-time leaders of the industry. Many designers on the list have received nominations in the past, including Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. Some sources, including the New York Times and The Cuthave pointed out that the nominees are overwhelmingly white and well-established, despite the organizations’ purported push for more diversity. 

Voting started on July 20 and will continue until July 27 at midnight EST. Be sure to check Twitter or the CFDA website on September 14 to catch the announcement of who won. Until then, explore the CFDA site to learn more about these renowned fashion designers.