On Saturday, November 6^th, the Indiana Fashion Foundation (IFF) hosted the annual fundraising gala celebrating the success of its 2021 programming, including the Emerging Designer Incubator, the Imagine IFF Youth Program, the IN Fashion Marketplace, and Indiana Fashion Week.

The IN Fashion Honors Gala was held in the heart of downtown Indianapolis on Monument Circle at the premiere private city venue, The Columbia Club. The atmosphere was celebratory as Indiana’s fashion community gathered to give tribute to the accomplishments of the organization and its program participants, while honoring the individuals who are making significant contributions to the fashion industry – both locally and globally – and also supporting the work and mission of IFF.

The evening’s honorees included:

Community Award: Casey Cawthon, VP of Marketing & Communications, Indy Chamber

Future Leaders Award: Ella Kistler, Designer/Founder, E360 Designs

Industry Award: Polina Osherov, Executive Director, PATTERN

Collegiate Award: Nate Beamon, Fashion Merchandising Senior, Ball State University

Designer Award: Nikki Blaine, Designer/Owner, Nikki Blaine Couture

CaSandra Diggs was presented with the IN Fashion Legacy Award (formerly the Legendary Trailblazers of Fashion Award). This award is the highest honor presented by Indiana Fashion Foundation and was first presented in 2019 to former CFDA Executive Director Fern Mallis. As the second recipient, Diggs was recognized for her 20-year tenure at the CFDA and her most recent leadership and advocacy of programs such as IMPACT and CFDA Connects. IFF Founder & CEO Denisha Ferguson, said, “I first learned about CaSandra when I was building Indiana Fashion Foundation. Her presence in the fashion industry alone was inspiring but learning about her advocacy for regional markets and BIPOC creators made it personal. This work is particularly necessary for a place like Indiana that isn’t traditionally thought of when it comes to fashion, though the industry is here. It became important to me that we honor her at this moment to let her know how crucial and appreciated her work in amplifying voices and creating opportunities is. CaSandra is brilliant and I’m so honored that she came to Indiana!”

The awards gala was preceded by the Making it IN Fashion Industry Conference hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue at the Fashion Mall Indianapolis, where Diggs was a special guest. Now in its third year, the conference is designed to aid in advancing individuals who are working in or are adjacent to the fashion industry through education, inspiration, and training. This year’s theme, “Not Just for Fashion People,” focused on the intersectional nature of fashion by exploring fashion’s connection to other industries and relevance in our daily lives. As the conference keynote, Diggs gave an empowering session discussing “Diversifying the American Fashion Industry,” which highlighted the importance and value of CFDA’s programming and initiatives.

On receiving her award, the CFDA President said, “I am thrilled to receive this honor from the Indiana Fashion Foundation who, like me, works effortlessly to champion underrepresented professionals in the fashion industry. Extending voice, visibility, and recognition to those of us unseen is the truest way to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable fashion industry.”

We are proud to have the Indiana Fashion Foundation as a founding member of CFDA Connects and we thank our leadership committee members, Denisha Ferguson and Michael Weston, for their continued work to bridge the gap between fashion-focused initiatives and economic power.

Pictured top: CaSandra Diggs and Elliot Carlyle.