Talk about an impressive outpouring of support from the American menswear world and its friends. On Monday evening, CFDA and Todd Snyder hosted a celebration for Nick Sullivan’s 20 years as Creative Director of Esquire replete with the creation of the Nick Sullivan and CFDA Menswear Design Scholarship.
Dao-Yi Chow, John Bartlett, Prabal Gurung, Jack Carlson, Connor KcKnight, Jacques Agbobly, Fletcher Kasell and Tanner Richie, and George Sotelo were joined at fashion favorite eatery Jean’s by Michael Sebastian, David Farber, Guy Trebay, Tony Brand, James Frazier, Ted Stafford, John Wattiker and Malcolm Carfrae, Andrew Taylor, Peter Malachi, Michael Carl, Eugene Tong, Yao King, Douglas Hand, and more.
CFDA CEO Steven Kolb recalled the moment Snyder, a CFDA member, reached out with the idea to honor Sullivan’s milestone moment.
“Todd said, ‘the CFDA represents the industry; not just designers but also the buyers and the editors,” Kolb said. “It would be nice to have the CFDA involved. Todd, in his work and in his business, has been so supportive of young talent, so we decided to create a scholarship in Nick’s name.
“We don’t often shine a light on men’s…,” he continued, “so to have a scholarship that will support a young menswear designer who could be the next Todd, the next great American designer, is really important.”
The new scholarship supports undergraduate juniors enrolled in fashion design programs at American colleges or universities who exhibit talent and creativity in menswear design.
“Nick said earlier, ‘why are you doing this,’” Snyder told guests. “I said, ‘dude, you’re a legend. You come to my shows. You do write-ups. The little things you do change everybody’s careers. You changed mine.
“The community we have in menswear is so incredible,” the designer added. “You see a lot of faces here who have been so supportive. That’s how I look at the CFDA too, as the water in the can that helps all of us grow. I thought, what can I do? I want to honor people like you.”
The menswear crowd was appreciative of the sentiment with impromptu applause during the remarks, making this, as Sullivan put it, “something that could have been a non-event into something very touching and exciting.”
Like the formidable editor he is, the man of the hour is already thinking ahead. His idea is “for us to come back and do this again in another person’s name. It could be photographer or a stylist. Menswear has always been a village, and it takes a village.”
