Earlier this month, we learned that Issa Rae is hosting the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards, which will be held in Brooklyn for the very first time this spring. Now, we have learned which three Black designers are being nominated as well as one Black editor who is being honored at the major fashion event.
Virgil Abloh, who founded the luxury streetwear brand Off-White, has been nominated for not one, but two awards! Abloh is nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year as well as Menswear Designer of the Year.
Aurora James, the creative director of footwear and handbag brand Brother Vellies, and Kerby Jean-Raymond, the founder of menswear label Pyer Moss, are both nominated for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent.
Edward Enninful, who was named the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue last spring, is also being honored with the Media Award inHonor of Eugenia Shepherd.
At last year’s CFDA Awards, legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath was honored with the Founder’s Award and Janelle Monae received the Board of Directors’ Tribute. In 2016, Beyoncé was honored with the Fashion Icon Award while Pharrell Williams received the same award in 2015 and Rihanna nabbed the honor in 2014.
Rae will host the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards on June 4 at the Brooklyn Museum.