James Frazier, Ed Buchanan, Imaan Hammam, Milton Dixon, Daveed Baptiste, Alastair McKimm, Bruce Pask
The designer receives $100,000 and a year-long mentorship program from the CFDA and the Frazier Family Foundation.
Daveed Baptiste has been named the 2025 recipient of the Empowered Vision Award. The award, presented by the CFDA and the Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation, provides a $100,000 financial grant and a year-long mentorship program to support emerging Black designers.
Baptiste, an interdisciplinary artist born in Haiti and raised in Miami, works across fashion, textiles, and photography. A Parsons School of Design graduate, he draws inspiration from his experience, exploring themes of migration and cultural preservation within the Haitian community and Caribbean diaspora.
“Daveed Baptiste ultimately distinguished themselves through clear, thoughtful storytelling and a disciplined, vulnerable approach to building and strengthening their tools to lead a business,” said Milton Dixon III, Program Director of the Empowered Vision Award. “We’re proud to support a designer whose work speaks to the future of fashion.”
The award was announced at a cocktail reception at the W Hotel Union Square in New York City on Wednesday evening, where Edward Buchanan and Imaan Hammam presented Baptiste with the honor. Guests including 2024 winner Rachel Scott, Kim Shui, Karreuche Tran, Prabal Gurung, and Quil Lemons gathered to celebrate.
“As we enter year two of the Empowered Vision Award, we reaffirm our commitment to championing designers at every stage of their creative journey,” said Steven Kolb, CEO and President of the CFDA. “Our goal is to build an ecosystem where diverse talent not only has the opportunity to emerge, but the foundation to thrive.”
Imaan Hammam, Steven Kolb, Hillary Taymour & Henry Zankov, Ed Buchanan, Teaira Walker, Dao-Yi Chow, Dapper Dan
