Black Designers Took Home Many CFDA Awards, and I Was Rooting For Them All Along

Black designers had a big night at this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards. They took home a range of prestigious awards, a testament to the breakthrough fashion moments they’ve orchestrated this year. From Telfar Clemens’s numerous successful collaborations (most recently with the sage bag that made its Insecure debut) to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s much talked about “Tax the Rich” dress designed by Aurora James, Black creatives were at the center of many of 2021’s biggest moments.

Last June, as demonstrations against police brutality swept over the world, the CFDA announced a series of initiatives designed to “place Black talent in all sectors of the fashion business and help achieve a racially balanced industry.” Considering the industry’s slow progress on championing Black representation, last night’s ceremony offered a glimpse into a more inclusive future. Ahead, discover the winners (including emerging labels and established forces), and join us in celebrating this momentous occasion.

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