2026 Couture Council Award: Diane von Furstenberg
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - The Couture Council of The Museum at FIT will honor Diane von Furstenberg—fashion designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist—with the 2026 Couture Council Award for her transformational influence on women's fashion. Von Furstenberg will receive the award during MFIT's annual Couture Council Luncheon on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Gotham Hall in New York City. The fundraising event benefits The Museum at FIT, the only museum in New York dedicated exclusively to the art of fashion. Couture Council board members Anne Baker, jewelry designer at Anne Baker Collection, and Alida Boer, CEO and founder of Nolé Care and Marias, will serve as co-chairs.
MFIT will honor Diane von Furstenberg for her immeasurable impact on the world of
fashion. She founded her eponymous brand in 1972, and two years later introduced the
wrap dress, which came to define freedom for generations of women. After the brand's
initial success, von Furstenberg relaunched DVF in 1997, and the brand has since grown
into a global luxury lifestyle label celebrated for its bold approach to color and
print, offering a full collection of ready-to-wear including its iconic wrap dress.
Beyond the runway, von Furstenberg is a philanthropist and author who has dedicated
her life to inspiring women. She currently serves on the boards of Vital Voices and
the CFDA. In 2010, she established the DVF Awards with the Diller-von Furstenberg
Family Foundation to honor and support women. Von Furstenberg's honors include induction
into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2019, the Chevalier de la Légion D’Honneur
from France in 2020, and the Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Couronne from her native
Belgium in 2021. She has written several books, including Diane: A Signature Life, The Woman I Wanted to Be, and Own It: The Secret to Life.
"Fashion is truly the zeitgeist, and no institution understands that better than FIT,"
said Diane von Furstenberg. "From the excellence of the college to the distinction of the museum and its public
programs, FIT continues to promote and engage the creativity of generations to come.
I am very thankful to be recognized and honored by such a renowned organization."
"We are incredibly proud to recognize and celebrate Diane von Furstenberg for her
transformative and global impact on fashion," said Jason S. Schupbach, FIT president. "Diane's iconic vision has redefined what it means to dress the modern woman with
confidence, and her career is a masterclass for our students in what's possible."
"Ever since she launched her iconic wrap dress in 1974, Diane von Furstenberg has
been one of the most charismatic fashion figures in the world,” said Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of MFIT. "Elected president of the CFDA in 2006, she served as chairwoman until 2019. Internationally
recognized today for her fashion, philanthropy, and commitment to empowering women,
DVF is truly the empress of American fashion."
Register for the Couture Council Luncheon
Past recipients of the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion are Olivier Rousteing of BALMAIN (2025), Simon Porte Jacquemus (2024), Gabriela Hearst (2023), Maria Grazia Chiuri of DIOR (2022), Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera (2021), Christian Louboutin (2019), Narciso Rodriguez (2018), Thom Browne (2017), Albert Kriemler of AKRIS (2016), Manolo Blahnik (2015), Carolina Herrera (2014), FIT alumnus Michael Kors (2013), Oscar de la Renta (2012), Valentino (2011), Karl Lagerfeld of CHANEL (2010), Dries Van Noten (2009), Isabel Toledo (2008), Alber Elbaz of LANVIN (2007), and FIT graduate Ralph Rucci (2006). In 2008, Giorgio Armani received a special award for Global Fashion Leadership.
PATRON LEVELS FOR THE COUTURE COUNCIL LUNCHEON:
| Fashion Icon Table | $50,000 (one table for 10 guests with premium seating) |
| Haute Couture Table | $25,000 (one table for 10 guests with superior seating) |
| Couture Table | $20,000 (one table for 10 guests with priority seating) |
| Fashion Icon Single Ticket | $2,500 (includes a one-year individual Couture Council membership) |
| Couture Single Ticket | $2,000 |
ABOUT DIANE VON FURSTENBERG STUDIO:
DVF was founded in 1972 by Diane von Furstenberg, who set out to empower women with style and confidence. Renowned for the iconic wrap dress, DVF became a global designer brand, celebrated for its bold approach to color and print, and feminine silhouettes that are effortless, sexy, and on-the-go. The DVF brand gives women the tools to be the women they want to be, always putting the woman before fashion.