The fourth annual celebration of bold new fashion talent also honored standout creatives
Words by ELIZABETH VARNELL
Photography courtesy of GETTY IMAGES
“We all know that the fashion industry is demanding, competitive, and constantly evolving. And yet, it has the power to bring people together beyond background or differences, to create and move forward collectively,” said Tania Fares, Fashion Trust founder, as she welcomed guests to the organization’s U.S. awards ceremony held at Nya Studios in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 7. “L.A. has always been a place that celebrates individuality and possibility, and that is exactly what Fashion Trust U.S. stands for,” she added. The evening, gathering emerging designers and industry veterans for a fourth year, included finalists in ready-to-wear, accessories, sustainability, and graduate categories selected by FTUS board members, including Fares; Laura Brown; Karla Welch; Jamie Mizrahi; Carlos Nazario; Anastasia Soare; Dan Constable; Maha Dakhil; Lady Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath; and Google mentors.
After a dinner prepared by the chef-restaurateurs behind Jon & Vinny’s, the Ready-to-Wear award including a grant and professional mentorship from FTUS and Google and presented by Google’s Stephanie Horton and singer Ryan Destiny went to Zane Li of LII. Marcelle Barbosa of Amaramara won the Graduate award presented by Melissa McCarthy. Monse’s Fernando Garcia and philanthropist Skye Hankey handed Andrea Marron the Accessories honors, while Josefina Baillères took home the Jewelry prize presented by Olivia Wilde. Jodie Turner-Smith handed Maxwell Osborne and Kristy Chen of an Only Child the Sustainability award. Yara Shahidi presented Deborah Won of Pisces Rising with a trophy designed by Jennifer Meyer (given to all the evening’s winners) for translating scientific ideas into tangible designs as the Type One Ventures & Lanvin Group Future Form winner.
Honoree Tory Burch was recognized as Designer of the Year by presenter Pamela Anderson, who noted she first met Burch away from the runway. “We were introduced by our sons,” Anderson said. “ I quickly learned that Tory is super intellectual, irreverent, and relentlessly curious.” After thanking Anderson, Burch noted that she had met so many of the FTUS finalists gathered in the room, and she lauded them for their ideas. “In addition to your immense talent, which really stood out, what stood out most was your strength, and your unique perspectives,” Burch said. “Nurture your point of view, respect it, and let it grow and evolve.”
Fashion Trust awards grants as well as access to mentors, operators, creative directors, and CEOs who have built businesses. J. Crew’s Olympia Gayot reminded those assembled that fashion exists as an ecosystem nurtured by talent like Patrick Taylor, the winner of last year’s Graduate award who went on to collaborate with her company. “None of us work alone. We build on each other. We challenge each other. We push each other forward,” Gayot said. “I know I couldn’t do what I do every day without the extraordinary design team that I get to work with. Finding and fostering talent like Patrick is one of the most inspiring parts of this work.”
In addition to Burch, Gayot, and Michèle Lamy, the evening brought out designers Jonathan Simkhai, Joseph Altuzarra, Johanna Ortiz, Zac Posen of Gap, Miguel Castro Freitas of Mugler, Fernando Garcia of Monse, and Jane Siskin of Cinq à Sept. They dressed scores of guests, including host Ego Nwodim, Sharon Stone, Emma Chamberlain, Dixie D’Amelio, Julia Fox, Jay Ellis, Chrissy Teigen, Becky G, Shahidi, Wilde, Anderson, McCarthy, Turner-Smith, and more.
Capping the evening, Lykke Li performed a musical set and Lamy received the Lifetime Achievement award for Design & Culture presented by Erykah Badu and Travis Scott. Accepting the honor, Lamy, a cofounder of Rick Owens’ Owenscorp who is also a designer and performer and manages the company’s Art/Furniture wing, said, “This is why I want my friends to come with me” while grabbing the hands of Badu and Scott. “There is still hope. We continue because we really want to change the world. Every single minute we don’t know how we can do it but we will, we will.”
April 20, 2026.
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