NEW YORK — Kim Kardashian was honored Monday at the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s fashion awards for her line of shapewear and used the honor to call on designers to be inclusive of all body shapes.
Kardashian received the first Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion for her shapewear brand SKIMS. Kardashian was also joined by co-founder and CEO Jens Grede and founding partner and chief product officer Emma Grede to receive the inaugural award.
The fashion industry’s equivalent of the Oscars took place in person on Monday night and was hosted by actress Natasha Lyonne and designers and CFDA members Joseph Altuzarra, Gabriela Hearst, Aurora James, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. The evening commemorated the history of American fashion and 60 years of the fashion organization.
“Since our launch, we have placed a strong emphasis on continuing to shape the industry to embrace size equality and diversity as a fixture and not just a trend, and I see many of you doing just that.” Kardashian told the star-studded audience that included her sisters Khloe and Kendall and her mother, Kris Jenner.
Martha Stewart presented the award to Kardashian, who had to make a quick announcement when a phone rang just before she started speaking. “Mom, turn off your phone,” Kardashian told Jenner to laughter from the audience.
The Kardashians were fully represented in the show, with Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Kendall and Kylie Jenner watching as their sister accepted her honor.
Other great awards were Elena Vélez as Emerging Designer of the Year 2022.
Vélez yelled Central America in his acceptance speech. “We also have a perspective on the fashion industry that deserves to be heard. So with this type of recognition, it strengthens that mission and allows me to serve as a channel in the industry for other local artisans.”
Law Roach was honored with a new award recognizing hairstylists for their work.
“Once upon a time, there was a queen born on the south side of Chicago. A queen who was a force of fear for good and beauty and who changed the fashion landscape simply by being her,” said Kerry Washington, retelling the story of Roach’s early life.
He shared with the audience that he was watching the 2016 CFDA Awards behind the scenes as Zendaya’s stylist.
“I watched from the kitchen as the waiters served your food and I said to myself, ‘One day I’ll be on that stage.’ I am an example that anything and everything is possible,” said Roach.
Bradley Cooper, Trevor Noah and Christina Ricci were among other presenters on an evening where a variety of designers took home trophies and Lenny Kravitz received the CFDA’s Fashion Icon Award.
“(Kravitz is) natural, cool, eclectic, fearless,” Cooper said in introducing Kravitz. Whatever it is, he has it. And when it comes to fashion, there’s no one cooler. There is no other musician alive today who wears leather and leopard like Lenny.”
“My mother’s closet was my personal boutique. I wear scarves, belts, platform boots, boas that emulate my heroes from the Jackson Five, Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, David Bowie and Miles Davis,” Kravitz said, recalling his youth in the late ’60s and 70.
Last year, Zendaya was the youngest person to win the Icon award. Previous recipients have included Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez.
Cher also made a surprise appearance to present an honor to hairstylist Patti Wilson. “Fashion is meant to be fun and to be feared and Patti Wilson is fearless,” said Cher.
The award for accessories design went to Raúl López.
In the American designer categories, Catherine Holstein won the womenswear award for KHAITE and Emily Adams Bode Aujla took the menswear designer award.
The Board of Trustees Award was presented to Virgil Abloh to honor the late designer’s contribution to world fashion. The award was received by his wife, Shannon Abloh, who said “what he was able to accomplish in his short 41 years will live to inspire us all for decades to come.”