James Jebbia is Menswear Designer of the Year at 2018 CFDA Awards

1 min readUpdated Jun 4, 2025Jun 8, 201812:52 AM

Supreme’s James Jebbia is one of the big winners, walking away with the Menswear Designer of the Year award.

Jebbia was up against strong competition in the category, beating out Raf Simons for Calvin Klein, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, Thom Browne, and Tom Ford.

Since 1981, the CFDA Fashion Awards have recognized those making the biggest impact in the fashion industry every year.

Notable winners this year included Ralph Lauren (Members Salute), Kim Kardashian West (Influencer Award), British Vogue‘s Edward Enninful (Media Award), and Naomi Campbell (Fashion Icon Award).

Calvin Klein’s Raf Simons walked away with the Womenswear Designer of the Year gong.

AdvertisementAdvertise with usMobile 320×100

What this means

James Jebbia's Menswear Designer of the Year award solidifies Supreme's elite status, a strategic win that directly pressures competitors like Calvin Klein and Off-White. This recognition elevates Supreme’s desirability, a crucial factor in Asia’s brand-conscious markets. Unlike Tiffany & Co. Directly opening new stores or Chagee targeting expansion, Supreme's approach often relies on cultivating hype through brand association and scarcity. This award could unlock new, lucrative collaborations or even warrant a more direct, albeit controlled, expansion strategy in key Asian cities. The risk lies in over-commercialising a brand built on exclusivity. The next thing to watch is any official Supreme store opening count in Asia beyond existing pop-ups or partnerships.

Sarah Chen

Reader pulse

Does this award meaningfully impact Supreme's Asian market prospects?

18,257 votes so far

Does this award meaningfully impact Supreme's Asian market prospects?

Asia's retail intelligence, in your inbox