Today, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced the appointment of their new president. It’s a milestone moment in the organization’s history since CaSandra Diggs is the first woman and the first person of colour named president since the CFDA was founded in 1962.

Diggs, who previously held the role of CFDA’s chief administrative and financial officer, has been a member of the organization since 2001. As President, she will expand her leadership role and be charged with developing strategy to help the CFDA in its mission to champion and support its membership and the fashion industry.

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CFDA News! The CFDA is pleased to announce the promotion of CaSandra Diggs to President of the organization.⠀ ⠀ Diggs joined the CFDA in 2001 and most recently was Chief Administrative and Financial Officer. As President, reporting to CFDA CEO @stevenkolb and the Board of Directors, she will expand her leadership role and be charged with developing strategy and making decisions that further the CFDA’s purpose to champion, educate, and support its membership and the fashion industry-at-large.⠀ ⠀ “CFDA remains a vital pillar of the fashion community,” @casdiggs said. “I am delighted to join Tom Ford and Steven Kolb as we continue to advance and evolve the CFDA into a modern, forward thinking organization that is reflective of our times.” ⠀ ⠀ “CaSandra is an innovative thinker with a strong understanding of organizational and business operations,” Kolb said. “Expanding her role will provide the CFDA with more opportunity to meet the needs of the membership in a broad and diverse way. It is a critical time for our industry, and she is the right person with the right ideas to help lead CFDA into the future.”⠀

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Diggs will report to Steven Kolb, who was previously president and remains CEO of the organization. “Expanding her role will provide the CFDA with more opportunity to meet the needs of the membership in a broad and diverse way,” said Kolb in a press release announcing the appointment. “It is a critical time for our industry, and she is the right person with the right ideas to help lead CFDA into the future.”

This announcement comes in the wake of criticism that the CFDA has faced from newly formed organizations advocating for equality in the industry, such as the Black in Fashion Council, the Black Fashion and Beauty Collective, and the Kelly Initiative. In June, the CFDA announced its plans and initiatives for fighting systemic racism in the fashion industry with a statement that Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond described as “watered-down.”

The CFDA has since announced a partnership with the Black in Fashion Council, which aims “to represent and secure the advancement of Black individuals in the fashion and beauty industry.”

“The CFDA is proud to partner with the Black in Fashion Council on its mission for equality in the industry,” read the organization’s official statement. Stay tuned for how Diggs, in her new role as President, will help the CFDA on its journey to building a fairer and more equitable fashion landscape.

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