2005 CFDA Fashion Awards

Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, and Ralph Rucci Nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year

Swarovski Continues to Generously Underwrite the Evening

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced today that Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs (for his signature collection) and Ralph Rucci for Chado Ralph Rucci have been nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year. The 2005 CFDA Fashion Awards winners will be announced at the annual gala, underwritten by Swarovski, on June 6th at The New York Public Library.
The CFDA also announced that John Bartlett, Ralph Lauren and John Varvatos have been nominated as Menswear Designer of the Year, while Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Janis Savitt for M + J Savitt and Gerard Yosca have been nominated as the leading Accessory Designers.

Thom Browne, Rogan Gregory for Rogan and Alexandre Plokhov for Cloak have been nominated for Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Menswear, which continues the underwriter's commitment to supporting emerging American fashion talent. The nominees for Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear are Derek Lam, Behnaz Sarafpour, and Peter Som. For Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design the nominees are Anthony Camargo and Nak Armstrong for Anthony Nak, Holly Dunlap for Hollywould, and Devi Kroell. The winner in each category will receive generous financial support and product from Swarovski, as well as exposure to the company's vast and innovative crystal resources.


This year's special award honorees are:

--Eugenia Sheppard Award - Gilles Bensimon, Publication Director of ELLE

--International Award - Alber Elbaz, Artistic Director, Lanvin

--Lifetime Achievement - Diane Von Furstenberg

--Award for Fashion Influence - Kate Moss

-- Board of Director's Special Tribute - Norma Kamali

"The 2005 CFDA Fashion Awards nominees and honorees represent an impressive cross-section of creative talents in the American Fashion industry. The 2005 CFDA fashion Awards is a tribute to their achievements, and celebrates the artistry of these individuals," said Peter Arnold, the executive director of the CFDA.

"Swarovski is proud to underwrite the CDFA Fashion Awards for the fourth consecutive year. As we are committed to supporting talent and creativity in the fashion industry, we are especially pleased to enhance the focus on young talent through the Swarovski Perry Ellis Awards. Each year, it has been thrilling to watch the industry embrace the inspiring creativity of these young designers and recognize their efforts to break boundaries and rise to new challenges," said Nadja Swarovski, Vice President of Swarovski International Communications.

The nominees and honorees were selected by over 450 fashion designers, press, retailers and stylists. This year's awards nominating committee will be able to vote on-line and view each nominee's collection beginning April 13th at http://www.cfda.com, the official website of the 2005 CDFA Fashion Awards. The final votes will be tabulated by Ernst & Young LLP, the official accounting firm of the 2005 CFDA Fashion Awards. The nominees, as well as recipients of the honorary awards, were confirmed today at a meeting of the CFDA Board of Directors.

The winners will be announced at the June 6 Awards gala. The 2005 CFDA Fashion Awards will be produced by KCD. Creative director Douglas Lloyd will art direct the graphic presentation of the awards and accompanying journal.


Background on the CFDA Fashion Awards

Womenswear Designer of the Year:

Awarded to an American designer who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of women's ready-to-wear fashion with his or her Spring and Fall 2005 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2005 Nominees:
--Marc Jacobs (for his signature collection)
--Ralph Rucci for Chado Ralph Rucci
--Vera Wang

Menswear Designer of the Year:
Awarded to an American designer who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of men's ready-to-wear fashion with his or her Spring and Fall 2004 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2005 Nominees:
--John Bartlett
--Ralph Lauren
--John Varvatos

Accessory Designer of the Year:
Awarded to an American designer who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of accessory design with his or her Spring and Fall 2005 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2005 Nominees:
--Marc Jacobs (for his signature collection)
--Michael Kors (for his signature collection)
--Janis Savitt for M+J Savitt
--Gerard Yosca

Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Ready-to-Wear:
Awarded to an American designer who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent for his or her womenswear design through his or her Spring and Fall 2005 collections. The Perry Ellis Awards were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers.

2005 Nominees:
--Derek Lam
--Behnaz Sarafpour
--Peter Som

Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Menswear:
Awarded to an American designer who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent for his or her menswear design through his or her Spring and Fall 2005 collections. The Perry Ellis Awards were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers.

2005 Nominees:
--Thom Browne
--Rogan Gregory for Rogan
--Alexandre Plokhov for Cloak

Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design:
Awarded to an American designer who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent for his or her accessory design through his or her Spring and Fall 2005 collections. The Perry Ellis Awards were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers.

2005 Nominees:
--Anthony Camargo and Nak Armstrong for Anthony Nak
--Holly Dunlap for Hollywould
--Devi Kroell

HONOREE AWARDS:

Eugenia Sheppard Award:
Awarded to a writer, photographer, or editor who has used his or her craft to further the profession of fashion reporting and coverage, or to a creative director, fashion editor, stylist, or artist whose exceptional creativity has shaped fashion visually.

2005 Honoree:
--Gilles Bensimon, Publication Director, ELLE

International Award:
Awarded to a designer working outside of America who has made an outstanding creative contribution to the world of fashion.

2005 Honoree:
--Alber Elbaz, Artistic Director, Lanvin

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Awarded for a "lifetime" of consistent, creative influence and dedication to fashion.

2005 Honoree:
--Diane Von Furstenberg

Award for Fashion Influence:
Awarded to an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion.

2005 Honoree:
--Kate Moss

Board of Director's Special Tribute:
A special tribute by the Board of Directors of the CFDA, given from time to time to acknowledge significant contributions and commitment to fashion.

2005 Honoree:
--Norma Kamali

CFDA.com is the official website of the 2004 CFDA Fashion Awards Ernst & Young LLP is the official accounting firm of the 2004 CFDA Fashion Awards.

About the CFDA

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of over 260 of America's foremost fashion and accessory designers. CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate not-for-profit company, which was organized to raise funds for charity and industry activities. CFDA membership is by invitation only. New candidates are recommended by two current CFDA members, and voted in by the Board of Directors annually. Founded in 1962, the CFDA's initial goals were, and still are, "to further the position of fashion design as a recognized branch of American art and culture, to advance its artistic and professional standards, to establish and maintain a code of ethics and practices of mutual benefit in professional, public, and trade relations, and to promote and improve public understanding and appreciation of the fashion arts through leadership in quality and taste."

---

---