THOM BROWNE TO BE HONORED WITH 2017 COUTURE COUNCIL AWARD

The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology will honor Thom Browne with its 2017 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion on Wednesday, September 6, at a luncheon at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. The luncheon benefits The Museum at FIT, New York’s only museum dedicated exclusively to fashion. As has become tradition, the award and luncheon herald the arrival of fall New York Fashion Week. This year’s luncheon will be co-chaired by Sharon Jacob and Kathy Prounis.

Thom Browne was chosen for his creativity, vision, imaginative spirit, and couture techniques by a distinguished international advisory committee that includes Suzy Menkes, Ken Downing, Linda Fargo, Hamish Bowles, Glenda Bailey, Nicole Fischelis, Caroline Milbank, Pamela Golbin, Akiko Fukai, and Patricia Mears.

“I want to thank the Couture Council for this award,” said Browne. “Winning the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion is such an overwhelming honor—an honor that is humbling, seeing who has received the award in the past. I only hope to be able to live up to the expectations that comes with its acceptance.”

“Thom Browne has long been acknowledged as one of our country’s most distinctive designers of men’s and women’s apparel,” commented Dr. Joyce F. Brown, president of FIT. “Critically acclaimed, he has won numerous prestigious awards. The Museum at FIT is proud to add to this well-deserved record of recognition with its Couture Council Award.”

“Thom Browne’s fashion shows are so witty and provocative; everyone is frantically taking pictures,” added Dr. Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at FIT and chair of the Couture Council Advisory Board. “Newcomers to his shows can be so overwhelmed by his image-making that they mistakenly assume his clothes must be unwearable, but in fact Thom’s clothes are surprisingly classic and incredibly well-made. He’s stayed true to his vision and made a real impact on fashion.”