An overflow crowd turned out Tuesday night for the 10th edition of WWD Honors: The Global Fashion Awards, where top executives, designers and businesses were singled out for their outstanding contributions to the fashion industry.
The big award of the night, the John B. Fairchild Honor for lifetime achievement, went to Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, who was joined by his wife TK and son Antoine and colleagues at the dinner following the first day of the 29th WWD Apparel and Retail CEO Summit at Casa Cipriani in lower Manhattan.
In accepting his award, Arnault said: “The future does not belong to those who comment on crises. It belongs to those who adapt to them and continue to create what women…and men…will love for decades to come. That is what I will keep working for.”
He also complimented the legendary, much feared and inventive John B. Fairchild, remarking that he “understood before anyone else that fashion was not just about clothes. It was about people: designers, models, clients, artisans, entrepreneurs.”
Morris Goldfarb
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
The event also honored men’s and women’s designers of the year as well as the top watch brand and the public and private apparel and beauty companies that outperformed this year. And Morris Goldfarb, chairman and CEO of G-III, who accepted the Creative Leadership award at the event.
Goldfarb was presented the award by his son, Jeff Goldfarb, executive vice president of G-III. In an introductory video, executives said Goldfarb built a $3 billion business by displaying stamina, tenacity, quick-wittedness, nimbleness and always a healthy dose of creativity. And long before it was the norm, he was promoting women into senior leadership roles because he believed in talent, not titles.
“It’s pretty special to be up here tonight to introduce Morris as he’s honored with the Creative Leadership award,” said Jeff Goldfarb. “I spent my career working with him and have seen firsthand how he operates, both in building G-III into the multibillion-dollar company it is today, as well as the many ventures he has taken on over the years. And through it all, what makes his leadership so successful comes down to a simple approach: trust your instincts, surround yourself with good people and never dwell on the past.”
“That’s a measure of success, having your son introduce you,” said Morris Goldfarb. “When I look back, what stands out most isn’t the deals or the brand, it’s the people.” He explained that his father, Aron Goldfarb, survived the Holocaust and came to America with very little. He built a small leather business in New York, worked long hours and took no shortcuts. “From him I learned integrity, persistence and the courage to see possibility where others didn’t.”
He became CEO in 1974, and in 1989, took G-III public. “Later we looked in places where others weren’t. It reinforced the belief I still hold: Opportunity doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes you have to imagine.”
Goldfarb thanked his family and his wife, Arlene. “We’ve been together since we’re 17. She’s been beside me through every chapter. My sounding board, a steady presence, my partner in every sense,” he said.
Michael Rider, artistic director of Celine, received the Menswear Designer of the Year award. He was honored for his ability to put a modern stamp on a brand whose roots date to 1945. His fashion sweet spot is creating classics with a bite, and his spring men’s show in Paris managed to break the mold after years of collections based on very specific silhouettes, themes, subcultures and fashion tribes, according to an introduction video.
Michael Rider
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
Rider was presented his award by “Hacks” actress Hannah Einbinder, who said his “magic lies in his ability to always choose the right thing for any particular moment.” She said that as he’s preparing for his collection, he surrounds himself with “hundreds of images of looks, rails and rails of fabrics and beautiful colors, tables of the most sublime accessories. And then, like the true Sagittarius he is, he becomes an arrow, circling the room, following his heart until he unquestionably lands on the right shoe, the perfect color, the best look every single time.”
In accepting his award, Rider thanked Arnault and the team at LVMH, Celine’s parent, for giving him and his team “the space and the freedom to imagine things and to make them as beautiful as we possibly can and to keep going. I feel like we’re just getting started.”
Remo Ruffini, CEO of Moncler, was presented the award for public company of the year, thanks to the company’s ability to preserve its identity, clarity of strategy and creativity while investing in the business with a long-term view, according to the introduction.
Remo Ruffini
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
Actor Adrien Brody, a longtime friend of the brand, presented the award, crediting Ruffini with being an “an extraordinary man who, more than 20 years ago, realized a dream through creativity and vision and transformed Moncler to become the household name and aspirational brand that we know today. This is an award that recognizes a company full of creativity, wonderful talent, but it’s guided by one man’s passion and his courage and his determination.”
Ruffini said even though “many people told me it’s just a puffer jacket, nothing more, I saw something different.” He went on to thank everyone who helped “climb many mountains with me,” and joked that he was glad to be receiving the award in New York City, where Moncler just opened its largest flagship in the world. “We just opened a big store and we need support,” he said with a laugh.
Me+Em, the British luxury and contemporary brand, won the award for Company of the Year, Private. It achieved sales in 2025 of more than $250 million with profits of $32 million. The brand has 11 stores in the United Kingdom and eight in the U.S., with more openings slated for 2027. Samantha Conti, WWD’s London bureau chief, presented the award to Clare Hornby, founder and CEO.
Clare Hornby
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
“I feel so incredibly honored to be receiving this award among so many of our industry’s great business and creative minds,” said Hornby. She said it was only two years ago that they opened their first two stores almost simultaneously on Madison Avenue and Mercer Street in Soho. “I spent many months prior to this pacing up and down and around the streets at different times of the week, and throughout the seasons, watching the flow of customers until finally I made the leap, but with trepidation, knowing if the stores failed, there wouldn’t be a blueprint for future openings and I’d need to eat humble pie and head back to London. So I do not take for granted standing here accepting an award for Private Company of the Year just over two years later,” said Hornby.
Accepting Cartier’s award for Watch Brand of the Year was Thierry Savouyaud, chief financial officer, Cartier North America. It was presented by Michael Atmore, editor in chief of WWD, who noted that Cartier isn’t just rising, it’s accelerating faster than other players. “It’s the ultimate flex, creating pieces that are lusted after by the hard core spreadsheet-loving watch collectors and front-row fashion icons alike.”
Thierry Savouyaud
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
In accepting his award, Savouyaud said at Cartier, a tank, a speedometer, a panther stride, “each begin with an idea about the world and becomes a design recognized instantly. It’s a spirit that goes back more than a century.
“Our open-minded approach pushes us to explore new ideas, while our precision and craftsmanship turn them into lasting creations. What really defines Cartier’s singular watchmaking experience is it’s a collective human adventure. We are proud of what our team creates and excited about what we are going to do next,” he said.
Alex Badia, style director of WWD, presented Henry Zankov with the One to Watch award. Zankov, founder and designer of his namesake label, received the CFDA American Emerging Designer of the Year Award in 2024, was named artistic director of Diane von Furstenberg this year.
Henry Zankov
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
“I would first like to actually thank Bernard Arnault. My first job while I was in college was working weekends at the Louis Vuitton store,” Zankov said. “This was during Marc Jacobs’ 10 years as creative director. I was completely captivated by the brilliance of the product and the clarity of the creative vision. That experience fundamentally shaped my understanding of luxury in teaching me the importance of quality, savoir faire and above all, the power of a strong, distinctive point of view. I really didn’t have to lift a finger as the product was so good it sold itself.”
He added: “It may sound cliché, but not everyone has the privilege of loving what they do. I never take for granted that I get to spend my days doing something that inspires me, challenges me and brings me so much joy. Building an independent brand is rarely easy, which makes this very mission all the more meaningful. It belongs not only to me but everyone who has poured their talent, passion, care and conviction into bringing this vision to life.”
He pointed to the “undeniable energy in New York and across our industry right now, a spirit of creativity, optimism and possibilities. It’s incredibly exciting to be part of this community and to share in this moment together.” He also thanked von Furstenberg for being “an incredible mentor and inspiration.”
Ben Bennett, founder and CEO of beauty accelerator The Center, accepted the award for Beauty Company of the Year, Private. He was presented his award by actress Michelle Monaghan.
Ben Bennett
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
“I started in the fashion industry, and once I moved over to beauty, I realized I’m never going back to fashion again — the margins are too good in this category,” laughed Bennett.
“It’s easy when we’re short on time to trivialize the category, but I try to remind myself and remind my people that the collection of beauty products that we all choose to leave on our vanities, to keep in our showers, represents items that help us feel our most confident, our most beautiful or handsome, help us express ourselves, who we are or who we want to be.”
Ulta Beauty was awarded Beauty Company of the Year, Public. The award was presented to Kecia Steelman, CEO of Ulta Beauty, by Tracee Ellis Ross, who launched her hair care brand, Pattern, exclusively with Ulta in 2019.
Kecia Steelman
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
“There is incredible momentum at Ulta Beauty right now, and while there are a lot of things that are driving that momentum, it all comes back to our people. I believe what makes Ulta Beauty truly special is how our teams keep our guests at the center of every decision and how they connect with partners and build real relationships. And of course, the experience of our front-line associates and how they bring that to our guests every single day,” said Steelman.
The evening ended with Haider Ackermann, creative director of Tom Ford, being presented with the Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Ackermann, whose career includes stints at Berluti, Fila and Jean Paul Gaultier before being tapped to join Tom Ford in 2024, has “garnered acclaim for his impeccably tailored looks” as well as his eveningwear and “arresting color palette,” his introduction video said.
Haider Ackermann
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD
Susie Cave, an English designer and entrepreneur, presented him with his award, singling out the “profound emotional depth” of his designs. “But what makes his work so special is the acute intimacy beneath all that beauty and sensuality. There is stillness, a tenderness, a respect for women and a depth of feeling that is unmistakably his. Even the way his models walk, sometimes with their hands by their hearts, seems to tell us something essential about Haider. His work comes from the heart.”
Ackermann said Cave has long been a source of inspiration to him and thanked Tom Ford brand owner Zegna Group for believing in him and “allowing me to keep dreaming.” He said he’s long adhered to Yoko Ono’s idea that if you “dream along, you’re only dreaming. But if you dream together, it is reality.”
He concluded by saying: “Throughout my journey, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to meet people — my friends — who have challenged me, inspired me, opened doors for me and stayed beside me. And I hold little pieces of my heart of each of them with me.”
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