The theme of this year’s Met Gala, “Fashion is Art,” offered a subtle nod to the spring Costume Institute exhibition, “Costume Art,” which the annual celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art honors.

To interpret the idea, James Frazier looked to Daveed Baptiste, the second winner of the Frazier Family Foundation x CFDA Empowered Vision Award, for his look for the night.

“I wanted the look to engage the theme by treating fashion as art on the body — not just as decoration, but a way of carrying form, movement, and narrative,” Frazier said.

“I was most looking forward to seeing Daveed’s work exist in that room,” the trustee of the Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation added. “The Met Gala brings together fashion, art, culture, media, and influence like no other event, and having the Empowered Vision Award recipient represented there is incredibly meaningful.”

As for Baptiste, he enjoyed the process, from collaborating with designer Jehan and Milton Dixon III, who styled Frazier, to the recognition he is now receiving.

“It’s exciting,” Baptiste said, “but it also feels like everything is starting to align in a meaningful way, like the work is landing where it’s meant to.”

We followed the process from sketch to suit and spoke to both Frazier and Baptiste along the way.

James Frazier

What mandate/direction — if any — did you give Daveed?

The most important direction was for him to remain true to his own language as a designer. I wanted the look to feel connected to his world — thoughtful, personal, and rooted in storytelling — rather than something created simply to respond to a theme.

My role was less about dictating the design and more framing the opportunity. The Met Gala is one of the most visible stages in fashion, and I wanted Daveed to use it to clearly communicate his point of view and perspective.

How did you want the look to play into this year’s Met exhibit theme?

This year’s theme, “Costume Art,” felt very aligned with Daveed’s practice because his work already sits at the intersection of sculptural, expressive design and more fluid, abstract forms. He began as a visual storyteller, and that sensibility comes through in the way he approaches fashion.

I wanted the look to engage the theme by treating fashion as art on the body — not just as decoration, but a way of carrying form, movement, and narrative. Daveed’s work often speaks to the Caribbean diaspora and the immigrant experience, so the goal was for the look to feel visually compelling while still holding a deeper story.

What did you want the look to accomplish?

I wanted the look to introduce Daveed to a broader audience in a way that felt elevated, intentional, and memorable. The goal was not just for people to notice the outfit, but to ask, “Who made that?” and discover the designer behind it.

For me, the look also needed to reflect the purpose of the Empowered Vision Award. EVA was created to help emerging Black designers move beyond recognition and into real opportunity. A moment like the Met Gala can create visibility, but it can also open doors — to press, stylists, collaborators, buyers, and future supporters. I wanted the look to function as both a creative statement and a platform.

Do you have anecdotes from the meetings and fittings with Daveed?

What stood out to me most was how seriously Daveed approached the process. In our conversations, it was never just about making something beautiful. He was always thinking about the story, the reference points, the body, and the feeling of the garment.

There was a real thoughtfulness in the fittings. The process felt less like simply putting on a look and more like an ongoing dialogue. We kept returning to the question of what the garment was saying while also making sure it felt right on the body and true to his design language. That level of intention is exactly why he was selected for the Empowered Vision Award.

What did look forward to the most at this year’s Met Gala?

I was most looking forward to seeing Daveed’s work exist in that room. The Met Gala brings together fashion, art, culture, media, and influence like no other event, and having the Empowered Vision Award recipient represented there is incredibly meaningful.

For me, the night is not just about attending the Gala. It is about seeing the mission of EVA come to life — making sure talented designers have access to the rooms, relationships, and platforms that can change the trajectory of their brands.

What does it mean to you to continue using the Met Gala as a platform to spotlight Empowered Vision Award recipients?

It means a great deal because the Met Gala is one of the most powerful visibility platforms in fashion. EVA was created to address a structural gap: talent is everywhere, but access to capital, mentorship, visibility, and decision-making rooms is not.

Using the Met Gala to spotlight EVA recipients is a way of extending the award beyond a single moment. It shows that our commitment continues after the announcement. We want recipients to be seen, supported, and positioned in spaces where their work can be taken seriously at the highest level.

What do you hope opportunities like this unlock for designers beyond the award itself?

I hope opportunities like this help build long-term infrastructure. Visibility matters, but it needs to translate into real access and relationships that support sustained growth.

Awards don’t build companies on their own. What matters is what happens afterward: who enters the designer’s ecosystem and what doors actually open. For Daveed, and for future EVA recipients, I hope moments like this turn recognition into lasting momentum.

Daveed Baptiste

How did you realize James’ vision?

James style leans classic, while my work tends to be more fluid in shapes, denim, things that feel a bit less formal. So it was really about finding that balance. Keeping it refined with beautiful tailoring while bringing in those abstracted curves that our brand is known for.

What were key elements you wanted to incorporate into the look?

A big part of my work are these fluid, organic shapes—almost wave-like forms—so it was important for me to bring that into the garment. Even within a more tailored structure, I wanted those elements to come through and feel intentional, not forced.

What are some of the details that speak to this year’s Met Gala theme?

This year’s theme really centers around fashion as art, and that’s how I approach my work. I see myself as an artist and fashion design as my medium. You can see that in the garment through these overlapping panels with fluid lines and curves that wrap around the body. At the same time, it still holds that classic menswear foundation, so it becomes this balance between structure and expression.

What was your favorite part of the process?

Definitely the collaboration. Working with another designer, Jehan, who has such deep experience in tailoring and red carpet, was really valuable. And partnering with stylist Milton Dixon was new for me in this way—he knows James so well, so he was able to give clear parameters around what he gravitates toward in terms of shape and color. I actually enjoy working within those kinds of boundaries, so that dialogue really helped push the design further.

What has the Empowered Vision Award made possible for you at this stage in your career?

As an emerging designer, you’re often operating in survival mode, so the funding alone gives you a real moment to breathe. It allowed me to stabilize my foundation and focus more intentionally on the work. Beyond that, the mentorship has been just as impactful. Having access to guidance and people who understand the industry has made me feel more supported and more confident in how I’m moving forward.

What did it mean to go from winning the award to designing for the Met Gala within such a short time frame?

It honestly feels a bit unreal, but also well deserved. As an emerging designer, you spend years working quietly—building, figuring things out, often balancing other jobs while trying to grow your own vision. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, so to have that kind of recognition now feels like a real turning point. To then go from receiving the award to designing for the Met Gala so quickly has been incredible. It’s exciting, but it also feels like everything is starting to align in a meaningful way, like the work is landing where it’s meant to.