It’s CFDA win number three for Diotima’s Rachel Scott

The Third time’s the charm for Jamaican fashion designer Rachel Scott.

The New York-based Scott, who founded and is the creative director of the Diotima brand, won the American Womenswear Designer of the Year award at Monday’s Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards.

“I was very surprised to win,” she confessed two days later.

“I won in 2024, the first black woman to have received this honour. I’ve been nominated both years since, and it felt a bit like that first time was a fluke and that I likely wouldn’t get it again. I truly went into the evening not thinking or preparing for this award at all.”

The win marks the third time the uber-hot designer, the subject of lavishly praised profiles in Vogue’s March issue and Vanity Fair’s October edition, has been victorious at the CFDA Fashion Awards, the first being heralded Emerging Designer of the Year in 2023.

Her latest victory at the American Museum of Natural History-hosted event saw Scott emerge ahead of peers Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera and Catherine Holstein for Khaite.

As to whether the newest trophy in a growing collection feels any different, she said, “Yes and no. It is always overwhelming and really humbling to be recognised in this way. I always think that fashion is reflective of our political moment and it does feel like a more inclusive shift has started to take place.”

For her glitzy fashion night out with designers and megawatt celebrities rubbing shoulders, Scott dressed actress Indya Moore of FX’s Pose fame, who also doubled as her guest.

Also outfitted in Diotima by the designer at the CFDA Fashion Awards was Vogue senior fashion editor Naomi Elizeé Blue.

“For Proenza, I dressed Eva Chen, director of [fashion] partnerships at Meta, and Lynette Nylander, executive digital director from Harper’s Bazaar,” she added.

Scott was speaking with Sunday Lifestyle from London, where she jetted for the opening of The Nue Black Aesthetic exhibition at the Design Museum that features black contemporary designers.

“It features my work for both Diotima and Proenza Schouler,” she disclosed of the exhibition pieces she contributed, including the latter American womenswear brand for which she was named creative director in September last year.

Of Diotima and the planned storyboard for the brand in the year ahead, Scott shared, “This work always guides what we do. Uncovering stories that need to be told, pushing the boundaries of ideas of beauty, that is what drives us [at Diotima]. I look forward to continuing the work.”

Pressed for details on where inspiration is likely to originate for her brand’s ready-to-wear show at next February’s New York Fashion Week fall/winter collections, her lips are sealed.

“It’s still too early,” she responded.

Post-CFDA Fashion Awards, naturally, celebration followed.

The designer du jour revealed that she headed to a Manhattan restaurant.

“My closest friends organised a small gathering for a celebratory drink after. For me that’s the best, just being with the people I love,” Scott beamed.

The cheering squad for Rachel’s latest trophy acquisition includes gleefully ecstatic Jamaican model Romae Gordon.

“I’m happy for her. She is a true fashion artist. It’s well deserved and I hope this recognition will drive greater business success for Diotima,” said Gordon, who co-stars in the brand’s current Fall/Winter 2026 advertising campaign, alongside Julie Mansfield Soimaud and Breana Carson.

The campaign was photographed by Luca Khouri earlier this year at Good Hope Estate in Trelawny.

For Gordon, it’s kismet being part of the Diotima journey. She had an established relationship with Scott long before her resurgent modelling career.

“In 2020, I texted Rachel this: ‘[Diotima] is strong, you will keep building to greater strength, all good vibes for now and the future.’ I recommended girls for her web shoots in the early years, so it is ironic that six years later, I am the campaign model. The timing is just right now,” a humbled Gordon reflected.

With the spotlight of fashion’s glitterati now trained firmly on the ever-prolific Diotima, its current brand face is deeply thoughtful as she responds to Sunday Lifestyle.

“Rachel understands the importance of highlighting her heritage and lifting up women who work in all areas of fashion, from the crochet artisans to the models. So, from a professional perspective, this is great for the co-creators in her orbit to grow and prosper with the brand.”

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com