This past Thursday, Runway 7’s highly anticipated 10th season of New York Fashion Week (NYFW) commenced with a spectacular opening event. The evening was centered around honoring the legacy of the distinguished career of New York City-based CFDA designer Naeem Khan. As a tribute to his influence and lasting contributions to the global fashion landscape, Khan was presented with an “Excellence in Design” award.
The name Naeem Khan has been synonymous with meticulously detailed, opulence, and world wide inspired couture for over two decades. His pieces have been the choice of globally celebrated figures, most notably First Lady Michelle Obama, Princess of Wales and the Queen Noor of Jordan.
Khan’s journey into fashion began in 1978, not too long after he relocated to the United States. A formative experience that would later shape and define his future work was an apprenticeship that he managed to score with the legendary American designer Halston. Under Halston’s tutelage, Khan began to hone in on his skills of complex draping, impeccable tailoring, refined garment construction and discernment in the selection of luxurious, high-quality textiles. His expertise in these departments rapidly evolved and transformed him into a master in craftmanship. He continued to work on a freelance basis with Halston well after his apprenticeship and then went on to launch a few of his own brand labels that sold in prominent stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Khan was later inducted as a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), in 2008.
A true standout moment during the night was the award presentation. Prior to bestowing Khan with his honor, singer, songwriter and Co-Founder of the “Members-Only Creative Social Network” Consuelo Vanderbilt took the stage. She spoke warmly about Khan’s ongoing contributions to the future of fashion, including his recent position as a judge for a new project recently launched by Runway 7 called “Runway News” that aims to discover and feature the most talented young designers throughout the country. Her words praised Khan not only for his accomplishments but also for the type of man he is. Vanderbilt called attention to his kindness and humility and underscored how his work and contributions have significantly shaped and elevated the fashion industry.
There was a transition from the presentation into a short, yet captivating video montage featuring sequences of snippets from a previous Naeem Khan runway show. This offered the audience a visual feast of his designs in motion for veterans and new comers alike to be reintroduced to his work.
After the conclusion of the video, Khan finally graced the stage to accept his award. He was met with a warm welcome and applause from an enthusiastic and highly energetic audience. Their reaction was a testament to affection and respect they hold for him and the impact that he’s made on the industry. Visibly moved, Khan expressed his gratitude to Consuelo Vanderbilt for her kind words. He then addressed the Runway 7 team, naming John Martinez and Anthony in particular for their past support and previously showcasing two of his collections on their platform in the years prior.
See Naeem Khan accept his award on Runway 7’s You tube channel bellow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Jl-B7Gs0M