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The Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America have announced four finalists for the second Empowered Vision Award, an annual initiative by both parties that awards an emerging Black designer an $100,000 financial grant with a year-long mentorship program.
The finalists nominated this year include the Haitian designer Daveed Baptiste, Keith Herron of Advisry, Nana Kwame Adusei of Kwame Adusei, and Edvin Thompson of Theophilio.
The Empowered Vision Award was introduced by the CFDA and Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier family last year to promote equity in the fashion industry by providing Black designers with more resources to compete globally. Last year’s inaugural Empowered Vision Award went to Diotima founder Rachel Scott, who also won the CFDA’s womenswear designer of the year award in 2024 and was named Proenza Schouler’s creative director in September.
The winner will be announced at a reception and cocktail event on Dec. 11 at the W Union Square. Members of the award’s selection committee include Bottega Veneta’s first Black ready-to-wear designer Edward Buchanan and i-D’s former editor-in-chief Alastair McKimm.
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