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Last night in Los Angeles, Keke Palmer, Hailey Bieber, Barbie Ferreira, Colman Domingo, and many more A-list faces gathered for the annual Fashion Trust U.S. Awards. Originally founded in the U.K. by Tania Fares in 2011, the nonprofit organization seeks to foster emerging designers through grants and mentorship opportunities. The program expanded into the U.S. in 2022. Past ready-to-wear winners include Aisling Camps and Harbison Studio.
Though American fashion is navigating an increasingly uncertain landscape due to the impact of tariffs, celebrities and industry leaders did not hesitate to turn out and show their support. Hosted by Palmer, who dazzled in a low-cut Oscar de la Renta gown, the ceremony boasted a fashionable roster.
Legendary image architect Law Roach sported Maison Margiela, Pose’s MJ Rodriguez wore Willy Chavarria straight from the fall/winter 2025 runway, and former Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler donned custom Acne Studios. The Marni spring/summer 2025 collection also had a big night on fashion It-girls including Julia Fox, Caroline Polachek, and artist Petra Collins.
Inside the event, Hailey Bieber, dressed in a plum wrap dress by Saint Laurent, presented Anthony Vaccarello with the inaugural Honorary Award, which celebrates the creative director’s extraordinary contributions to the industry. There’s no doubt that Vaccarello is having his moment. After nearly a decade with the brand, the designer has reinvigorated late ’80s house codes without feeling overly nostalgic while bringing back big-shouldered baggy suiting that has continued to fuel the “office siren” aesthetic.
As far as this year’s group of independent designers goes, New York almost swept the group. The ready-to-wear honor went to New York darling and 2024 CFDA Award winner Rachel Scott of Diotima, whose Caribbean-influenced designs have brought a breath of fresh air to contemporary brands on the New York Fashion Week schedule. Accessories accolades went to Dani Griffith’s New York-based brand Clyde, which is primarily known for its trendy bonnets and scarf-esque baseball caps. The jewelry award went to Beck, a Williamsburg-based line designed by Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz, who also draws inspiration from her Caribbean heritage.
As a strong supporter of not only independent designers but also truly emerging brands, Fashion Trust U.S. honored Patrick Taylor, a knitwear designer from the Parsons School of Design, with this year’s graduate achievement. Lastly, the sustainability award, which encompasses all the categories’ nominees, went to Nana Kwame Adusei of Los Angeles-based brand Kwame Adusei. Each winner will receive C-suite mentorship and cash funding from Fashion Trust U.S. and Google that will continue to grow the business of independent fashion.
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