CFDA ANNOUNCES 2008 CFDA FASHION AWARDS NOMINATIONS 03/11/2008

NEW YORK, March 11, 2008 The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced yesterday that Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs have been nominated for the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. The 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards winners will be announced at the annual gala, generously underwritten by Swarovski, on June 2 at The New York Public Library. The official announcement of nominees and honorees was made last night at an exclusive event hosted by Swarovski and the CFDA Board of Directors at the Rooftop Gardens at Rockefeller Center.

In addition, Michael Bastian, Thom Browne, and Tom Ford have been nominated for the Menswear Designer of the Year Award, while Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors have been nominated for the Accessory Designer of the Year Award.

Kate & Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Thakoon Panichgul, and Alexander Wang have been nominated for the Swarovski Award for Womenswear. The nominees for the Swarovski Award for Menswear are Patrik Ervell, Tim Hamilton, and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders. For the Swarovski Award for Accessory Design, the nominees are Philip Crangi, Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry, and Joy Gryson. The Swarovski Award recipients in each category will receive generous financial support from Swarovski as well as exposure to the companys vast and innovative CRYSTALLIZED TM Swarovski Elements.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Carolina Herrera. The Board of Directors Special Tribute will be presented to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

The other special award honorees are:

Eugenia Sheppard Award Candy Pratts Price

International Award Dries Van Noten

Were thrilled that this years nominees and honorees reflect the strength and vivacity of the American fashion industry, said Steven Kolb, the executive director of the CFDA. The 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards will be a celebration of these designers unique creativity and accomplishments.

Swarovski is delighted to underwrite the CFDA Fashion Awards for the seventh consecutive year, said Nadja Swarovski, vice president of Swarovski International Communications. We are especially pleased to, again, host the announcement party for the Awards in celebration of the nominees, honorees and the CFDA Fashion Awards. We embrace our commitment to supporting talent and creativity in the fashion industry in general, and particularly, to nurturing young design talent with the Swarovski Awards.

The nominees and honorees were selected by the CFDA membership, press, retailers and stylists. The nominees, as well as recipients of the honorary awards, were confirmed yesterday at a meeting of the CFDA Board of Directors. The final votes will be tabulated by Ernst & Young LLP, the official accounting firm of the 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards.

The winners will be announced at the June 2 Awards gala. T-Mobile Sidekick will once again host the Viewing Party featuring a live simulcast of the Awards. The party will take place in the Librarys Astor Hall and accommodate an additional 300 members of the fashion community.

The 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards will be produced by KCD and art directed by Laird + Partners.

Background on the CFDA Fashion Awards

Womenswear Designer of the Year:
Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of women's ready-to-wear fashion with his or her Spring and Fall 2008 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2008 Nominees:
Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein
Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler
Marc Jacobs

Menswear Designer of the Year:
Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of men's ready-to-wear fashion with his or her Spring and Fall 2008 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2008 Nominees:
Michael Bastian
Thom Browne
Tom Ford

Accessory Designer of the Year:
Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of accessory design with his or her Spring and Fall 2008 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2008 Nominees:
Tory Burch
Marc Jacobs
Michael Kors

Swarovski Award for Womenswear:
Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent in womenswear design with his or her Spring and Fall 2008 collections. The Swarovski Awards, originally called Swarovskis Perry Ellis Awards, were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2008 Nominees:
Thakoon Panichgul
Kate & Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte
Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Menswear:
Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent in menswear design with his or her Spring and Fall 2008 collections. The Swarovski Awards, originally called Swarovskis Perry Ellis Awards, were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2008 Nominees:
Patrik Ervell
Tim Hamilton
Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design:
Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent in accessory design with his or her Spring and Fall 2008 collections. The Swarovski Awards, originally called Swarovskis Perry Ellis Awards, were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2008 Nominees:
Philip Crangi
Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
Joy Gryson

HONOREE AWARDS:

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award:
Awarded for a lifetime of consistent, creative influence and dedication to fashion.

2008 Honoree: Carolina Herrera

Eugenia Sheppard Award:
Awarded to a writer, photographer, or editor who has used his or her craft to further the profession of fashion reporting and coverage, or to a creative director, fashion editor, stylist, or artist whose exceptional creativity has shaped fashion visually.

2008 Honoree: Candy Pratts Price

International Award:
Awarded to a designer working outside of America who has made an outstanding creative contribution to the world of fashion.

2008 Honoree: Dries Van Noten

Board of Directors Special Tribute:
A special tribute by the Board of Directors of the CFDA, given from time to time to acknowledge significant contributions and commitment to fashion.

2008 Honoree: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

Ernst & Young LLP is the official accounting firm of the 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards.