A Tribute to a Fashion Icon’s Enduring Influence

Giorgio Armani, the late Italian fashion icon, was celebrated with a posthumous Legacy Award at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2025, held at the iconic La Scala opera house in Milan. The event drew a crowd of Italy’s top fashion figures, with the award presented by Anna Wintour, Condé Nast’s chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, to Armani’s niece Silvana Armani, nephew Andrea Camera, and close business associate Leo Dell’Orco. Wintour praised Armani as a visionary who revolutionized fashion by transforming the traditional business suit into a symbol of sophistication and freedom.

In her speech, Wintour highlighted how Armani’s designs redefined the very fabric of modern fashion. “Giorgio ended up one of fashion’s heads of state, but he was a visionary in his day, ahead of several curves,” she said. “Before him, there was only the boring business suit with its stiff forms. He liberated suiting and in the process he liberated fashion. Visit the runways this week and you will see this legacy everywhere.”

Carlo Capasa, chairman of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Armani’s enduring influence. “In this special evening, we celebrate the creative and human story of Giorgio Armani, who offered vision, beauty — and his legacy is one of integrity and timeless style, a reminder of what fashion can be at its very best,” he said on stage.

The awards ceremony also recognized a diverse range of contributors to the sustainable fashion movement. The Craft and Artisanship Award went to Tod’s, while the Diversity and Inclusion Award was presented to Willy Chavarria, who spoke passionately about the role of fashion in preserving cultural identities. “The stories we tell through fashion can protect our cultural identities,” he said. “And especially at a time when our souls, our histories and our very presence are under a very rapid erasure in some places. It’s up to us to come together and promote and propel the people that we all are.”

The Human Capital and Social Impact Award was given to Saheli Women, a non-profit social enterprise founded by Madhu Vaishnav in Bhikamkor, Rajasthan. The organization empowers local women through skills development, fair wages, health insurance, and a safe working environment. Saheli Women now employs over 100 artisans across two centers and collaborates with more than 60 fashion brands globally. Madhu Vaishnav, in her acceptance speech, emphasized the importance of responsibility in fashion. “We’re here tonight united by one belief. When fashion embraces responsibility, it gains the power to inspire,” she said.

The Circular Economy Award was presented to Regenesi, an Italian brand that transforms post-consumer waste materials such as aluminum, glass, plastic, leather, and cardboard into bags, clothing, and household items. The Climate Action Award went to The Schneider Group, which ethically sources, processes, and supplies high-quality wool, cashmere, vicuna, and other noble animal fibers. Paola Deda, chairperson of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, presented the award, noting their commitment to “turning their clients’ natural fibres into a symbol for integrity, responsibility and preservation.”

The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers was presented to Sake, a regenerative fashion project founded by Colombian designer Ana Tafur, which focuses on co-creating with Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Andes and Amazon to preserve ancestral knowledge and build regenerative economies. Ana Tafur’s work has gained international recognition for its commitment to sustainability and cultural preservation.

The Sustainable Fashion Awards, originally launched in 2017, are today organized by CNMI in collaboration with the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion and with support from the Municipality of Milan. The event not only honors the legacy of Giorgio Armani but also serves as a platform to highlight the future of sustainable and ethical fashion.

As the fashion world continues to honor Armani’s legacy, the awards underscored the power of fashion to inspire, unite, and drive positive change. With the industry increasingly focusing on sustainability, diversity, and ethical practices, the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2025 stood as a testament to the evolving role of fashion in shaping a better future.