Content
Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
Entertainment·Photos

Top fashion designers crowned at Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards

The Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards have crowned Beaufille and Spencer Badu this year's top fashion designers at a gala held in Toronto over the weekend.

Beaufille named womenswear designer of the year, and Spencer Badu declared top menswear designer

The Canadian Press ·
Chloe Gordon of Beaufille accepts the CAFA 2024 Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in Toronto on Oct.19, 2024.
Chloe Gordon of Beaufille accepts the CAFA 2024 Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 19. (George Pimental/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards have crowned Beaufille and Spencer Badu this year's top fashion designers.

A model shows a creation from Beaufille while walking the runway during Toronto Fashion Week in Toronto on Monday March 17, 2014.
A model shows a creation from Beaufille while walking the runway during the 2014 Toronto Fashion Week. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Beaufille, founded and designed by sisters Chloe and Parris Gordon, was named womenswear designer of the year, while Spencer Badu was declared top menswear designer at a weekend gala in Toronto. 

Models pose at the Nobis show during New York Fashion Week 2023 at Location05 on February 10, 2023 in New York City.
Models pose at the Nobis show during New York Fashion Week 2023 on Feb. 10, 2023. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

The accessory designer of the year award went to Maguire, while Nobis earned top outerwear brand.

Indigenous fashion designers are pictured during the opening night of the Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week in Vancouver, British Columbia on Monday, November 21, 2023.
Indigenous fashion designers are pictured during the opening night of the Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week in Vancouver on Monday, Nov. 21, 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

CAFA president Vicky Milner announced a new award called the Indigenous Fashion Award, to recognize the talent and creativity of Indigenous designers, brands and artisans.

Alicia Hanton walks the runway for Yolonda Skelton during the opening night of the Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week in Vancouver, British Columbia on Monday, November 21, 2023.
Alicia Hanton walks the runway for Yolonda Skelton during the opening night of the Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week on Nov. 21, 2023. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Milner said the organization wants to foster "a vibrant ecosystem that honours tradition while embracing innovation and business development opportunities."

Linda Evangelista attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" exhibition on Monday, May 6, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Linda Evangelista attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibition on May 6 in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/The Associated Press)

The event also saw supermodel Linda Evangelista receive the vanguard award and Ben Barry, Dean of Fashion at New York's Parsons School of Design, collect a changemaker award.

Dr. Ben Barry, Dean & Professor of Equity & Inclusion, School of Fashion, Parsons School of Design speaks during the Unstereotype Alliance Global Member Summit 2022 at United Nations on November 18, 2022 in New York City.
Ben Barry, Dean of the School of Fashion for New York's Parsons School of Design speaks during the Unstereotype Alliance Global Member Summit 2022 at the United Nations on Nov. 18, 2022. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Other honours included a changemaker award for sisters Justice Faith Betty and Nia Faith Betty for their efforts to empower young people, and the outstanding achievement award for lifestyle brand Roots.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 08: (L-R) Justice Faith Betty and Nia Faith Betty attend RBCxMusic Night with Special Guest DJ Diesel (Shaquille O'Neal) at RBC House Toronto International Film Festival 2023 on September 08, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario.
Justice Faith Betty and Nia Faith Betty attend RBCxMusic Night at RBC House during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8, 2023. (Kennedy Pollard/Getty Images for RBC)

Here's a look at the other winners:

Emerging Talent, Fashion: Jontay Kahm

Emerging Talent, Accessories: Steff Eleoff

Fashion Design Student Award: Tia Kureshi

Image Maker of the Year: Richard Bernardin

Stylist of the Year: Amber Watkins

Fresh Face of the Year: Dalton Dubois

Model of the Year: Mathieu Simoneau

Fashion Impact Award: Vanja Vasic, Fashion Art Toronto

Digital Fashion Creator of the Year: Mei Pang

Sustainability Award: Kotn

Makeup Artist of the Year: Sabrina Rinaldi

Hair Artist of the Year: Kristjan Hayden

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|

Related Stories