The Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America have revealed the second edition of the Empowered Vision Award.
The annual award recognizes one outstanding designer with a $100,000 financial grant, a tailored mentorship program backed by an additional $100,000 invesment and national visibility. The award celebrates designers whose creativity and entrepreneurship embody the power of fashion as a driver of cultural dialogue and business innovation.
Launched in 2024, the inaugural Empowered Vision Award went to Rachel Scott of Diotima, the CFDA‘s 2025 American Womenswear Designer of the Year and recently appointed creative director of Proenza Schouler. She was selected from a highly competitive finalist pool including Charles Harbison of Harbison Studio and Aisling Camps.
This year’s selection committee reflects the broad and diverse influence of leaders driving change in the industry. They include Edward Buchanan, artistic director and cultural advocate; Walter Frye, global director of brand and retail marketing, Amazon; Emilie Rubinfeld, global president, Carolina Herrera; Imaan Hammam, supermodel; Carlos Nazario, editor and stylist; Shiona Turini, costume designer, Alastair McKimm, stylist and creative director, and Bruce Pask, senior director, men’s fashion, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
The foundation said Buchanan’s participation is especially significant. As one of the first Black designers to ever lead a global luxury house, Buchanan has long exemplified how creativity and cultural responsibility can shape fashion’s future. His presence on the committee underscores the award’s mission to honor Black designers and foster a lasting community of support.
“I am really honored to be on the selection committee for the 2025 Empowered Vision Award. The most important work that I do at this stage of my career is education and passing on the baton,” Buchanan said. “I cannot imagine a future for honest inclusivity within the fashion space if I do not use my visibility and experience as an investment dedicated to the empowerment of young Black talent. My most memorable and inspiring moments as a young designer in New York City was when I saw a clear reflection of myself in the spaces that I dreamed of occupying. This is yet another opportunity for me to be that reflection for a new generation of young Black designers.”
Led by the CFDA and the Frazier Family Foundation, with trustee James Frazier and program director Milton Dixon 3rd, the selection process identifies a designer whose work demonstrates exceptional artistry, business acumen and commercial promise. The award provides critical resources for production, marketing and operational growth, while mentorship ensures lasting guidance from leaders across the fashion ecosystem.
Applications open on Wednesday with full details on CFDA.com.
The Empowered Vision Award will be celebrated Friday with a luncheon in Paris at Victoria Paris. Selection committee member Buchanan will be in attendance.
Kenneth Frazier is the former chief executive officer of Merck and currently serves as the chairman of Health Assurance Initiatives at General Catalyst, where he continues to lead efforts in driving health care innovation. He is also the co-chair of OneTen, an initiative focused on closing the opportunity gap for Black Americans by upskilling, hiring and promoting 1 million Black individuals into family-sustaining jobs with advancement opportunities over the next decade.
Andréa Frazier is an interior designer and serves on the boards of both the American Heart Association and Pratt Institute. She also oversees the Frazier Family Coalition.
The Frazier Family Foundation has a longstanding commitment in supporting the arts, in addition to its core focus on health and educational equity. Its interest in the fashion industry stems from the belief that fashion, like other creative fields, can serve as a powerful vehicle for storytelling and cultural expression. While this may be a new endeavor for the foundation, it sees it as an exciting opportunity to extend its support to a new area of the arts.
