The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology 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 Oct. 22 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. The museum has a permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present.
Couture council board members Anne Baker, jewelry designer at Anne Baker Collection, and Alida Boer, chief executive officer and founder of Nolé Care and Marias, will serve as co-chairs.
Previous recipients of the Couture Council Award include Olivier Rousteing of Balmain, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Gabriela Hearst, Maria Grazia Chiuri of Dior, Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera, Christian Louboutin, Narciso Rodriguez, Thom Browne, Albert Kriemler of Akris, Manolo Blahnik, Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino Garavani, Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Isabel Toledo, Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, and Ralph Rucci. Giorgio Armani received a special award for Global Fashion Leadership in 2008.
Von Furstenberg will be honored by MFIT 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 symbolize freedom for generations of women. After the brand’s initial success, she relaunched DVF in 1997, and the brand has since grown into a global luxury lifestyle label known for its bold approach to color and print, offering a full collection of ready-to-wear. In May, DVF tapped Henry Zankov as artistic director of the company.
In addition to her brand, von Furstenberg is a philanthropist and author, inspiring women. She serves on the boards of Vital Voices and the CFDA, where she was first president and then chairman from 2006 to 2019. 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 three books, including “Diane: A Signature Life,” “The Woman I Wanted to Be” and “Own It: The Secret to Life.” A documentary exploring von Furstenberg’s life, “Woman in Charge,” was co-directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton, and released on Disney+ and Hulu in 2024.
“Fashion is truly the zeitgeist, and no institution understands that better than FIT,” said 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.”
Jason S. Schupbach, FIT president, said, “We are incredibly proud to recognize and celebrate Diane von Furstenberg for her transformative and global impact on fashion. 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 the museum. “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.”
