New York Designers to Receive Awards in Dallas
New York–based designers Derek Lam and Stan Herman will be honored Oct. 29 at the 30th annual Dallas Fashion Awards.
Lam will receive the Rising Star Award, and Herman will receive the Fashion Excellence Award at the event, to be staged at the International Apparel Mart in Dallas.
Lam, who launched his first collection in 2003 after spending 12 years working for Michael Kors and others, will be noted for his classic American style and feminine silhouettes. He also will present a fashion show at the event.
“Derek Lam has created an amazing design business and gained favor with the critics in a very short period of time,” said Cindy Morris, chief operating officer of the Dallas Market Center, which is organizing the awards. “We are pleased to present the Rising Star Award to a very talented and deserving designer.”
Lam’s collection is sold at Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, among other stores. He has outfitted President Bush’s daughter Barbara, as well as celebrities.
Lam, a 1990 graduate of the Parsons School of Design, is also in the running to become a recipient of the first Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund, created to financially support and mentor new American designers. The winner will be announced in November.
Herman was chosen for his lifelong contributions to fashion as well as for his commitment to social causes. The three-time Coty Award–winning designer has served as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America since 1991. He became the head of the consulting committee to the 7th on Sixth Corp. after having served as CFDA president for seven years.
“We are pleased to honor Stan Herman’s legendary service to the fashion industry,” Morris said. “As a designer and as a tireless supporter of his industry and community, we applaud his talent and dedication.”
Herman’s ideas and technical design knowledge helped bring affordable fashion to the masses with the Mr. Mort label, which is sought after by hip vintage collectors today. Most recently, Herman incorporated his ready-to-wear design savvy into the Carol Hochman Group’s chenille robes and loungewear. His lifestyle-driven products can be found on QVC, QVCUK and QVC Germany and at leading retailers across the United States.
As a social leader and advocate, Herman, through CFDA, has raised more than $12 million for AIDS education and prevention and launched the “Fashion Targets Breast Cancer” initiative, which, along with other efforts, has helped raise more than $10 million for breast cancer research. For six years, Herman also was on the board of directors for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, a nonprofit AIDS organization offering hands-on support for men, women and children with AIDS in New York.
“It is an honor to be recognized with such a prestigious award,” Herman said. “I thank Dallas Market Center for the acknowledgement and for hosting this wonderful industry event.”
In addition, the DMC officials will name winners, chosen by buyers during recent markets, in eight fashion categories.
The event will benefit the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS and the Fashion Group International Scholarship Fund.
Tickets for the event are $135; tables of eight are $1,000. For ticket information, call (214) 672-8420.
—Robert McAllister
