For its first virtual gala, the 42nd annual American Image Awards delivered a slate of honorees that included the Alibaba Group, Ralph Lauren Corp., Brandon Maxwell, Bravo/”Project Runway,” and Kenneth Cole, along with his surprise presenter, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who happens to be Cole’s brother-in-law.
CaSandra Diggs, president of the CFDA, said, “This year has been a very difficult one for the fashion industry and the world at large. Hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, like our friends at the AAFA, the CFDA immediately pivoted to help our industry navigate this unprecedented time. We are incredibly proud of our efforts to support designers, factories and retailers through A Common Thread.”
The Retail Innovator of the Year went to Alibaba, which was founded in 1999 by Jack Ma, and today reaches 800 million consumers in China and is growing around the world. More than 250,000 brands and millions of small businesses run storefronts on Alibaba’s marketplaces. Patrice Louvet, president and ceo of Ralph Lauren Corp., accepted the award for Company of the Year and thanked AAFA for being an important and powerful voice for the industry. “It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of Ralph, and our Ralph Lauren colleagues around the world. This is a testament to their commitment and creativity, their passion and dedication and especially their agility and resilience during truly unprecedented times,” he said.