Weekly Spotlight: CFDA Award Nominees, Fendi’s 100th, Thom Browne’s Trademark Win, and More
By Sirena Kuo
1. The 2024 CFDA Fashion Award Nominees Revealed
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced its 2024 Fashion Award nominees, setting the stage for one of the year’s most anticipated events. In the American Menswear Designer of the Year category, Mike Amiri, Emily Adams Bode Aujla, Thom Browne, Todd Snyder, and Willy Chavarria are the top contenders. For American Womenswear Designer of the Year, Rachel Scott for Diotima, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne, and Tory Burch are in the running. Ana Khouri, Stuart Vevers for Coach, Catherine Holstein for Khaite, Raul Lopez for Luar, and Tory Burch are nominated for American Accessory Designer of the Year, while emerging designers Tanner Fletcher, Wiederhoeft, Connor McKnight, Presley Oldham, and Henry Zankov are up for the Shop With Google American Emerging Designer of the Year award. International Designer of the Year goes to Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, with Michael Kors receiving the Positive Change Award for his philanthropic efforts. Stephen Burrows will be honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, and Annie Leibovitz will take home the Media Award. The ceremony, set for October 28 at the American Museum of Natural History, promises a night celebrating creativity and excellence in fashion.
2. Fendi Celebrates 100th Anniversary with SS25 Collection
Fendi’s Spring/Summer 2025 show marks a major milestone: the house’s 100th year in business. Kim Jones, who leads womenswear, used the collection to celebrate Fendi’s legacy, with a strong nod to the women at the heart of its success. The show opened with a conversation between Silvia Venturini Fendi and her mother, Anna, reflecting on the brand’s origins, going back to when Adele Fendi opened the first store in 1925. Anna shared wisdom from Adele, likening the family to a hand — five fingers, each different but complementary, a symbol of Fendi’s strength through family. Jones brought this legacy to life with designs that played on the house’s iconic shapes: delicate dresses, feminine fringe, sheer fabrics, and signature Baguette bags made a statement. It was a tribute to the women who built Fendi and continue to define it today.
3. Thom Browne Wins Trademark Battle Against Adidas in Germany
Thom Browne has scored another legal win against Adidas, this time in Germany. On September 6, the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court ruled that Adidas’ claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition were unfounded. The dispute centered around Browne’s four-stripe design, which Adidas argued was too close to its iconic three-stripe trademark. The court found key differences, not just in the number of stripes but also in their width, ruling that there was no likelihood of customer confusion. Browne’s branding was also considered prominent enough to avoid any overlap with the sportswear giant. This follows Thom Browne’s similar legal victory in the U.S., reinforcing the brand’s right to continue using the design without restrictions in the German market. CEO Rodrigo Bazan hailed the decision as a validation of Thom Browne’s creative integrity, which has been a hallmark since the brand’s early days in New York’s West Village. Now part of the Zegna Group, Thom Browne’s designs are available in 40 countries worldwide.
4. Chanel Extends Educational Partnership with University of Cambridge
Chanel has renewed its educational partnership with the University of Cambridge, extending their collaboration for another three years. Initially launched in 2021, the partnership focuses on pushing forward sustainable business practices and innovation. The next phase will strengthen education programs for Chanel’s leadership, support the exploration of regenerative business models, and continue funding student bursaries for sustainability courses at Cambridge. Chanel’s global chief sustainability officer, Kate Wylie, emphasized the importance of informed solutions to tackle global challenges, calling the partnership “vital” for driving progress. So far, nearly 500 Chanel leaders and key team members have been upskilled, and the brand has worked closely with the university’s experts to prototype solutions across product categories. Both Chanel and Cambridge remain focused on advancing sustainability skills and leadership to foster long-term business transformation.
