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Lang, de la Renta win top designer awards

June 16, 2000
Web posted at: 4:56 p.m. EDT (2056 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Oscar de la Renta and Helmut Lang have snagged the highest honors from the American Fashion Awards.

Lang was named Menswear Designer of the Year, while de la Renta won Womenswear Designer of the Year. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) handed out the prizes Thursday night at New York's Lincoln Center.

Lang, who did not attend the ceremony, beat nominees Kenneth Cole and Marc Jacobs.

He also was in the running for the womenswear award, as was Donna Karan, but de la Renta got the nod.

"I have such passion for what I do," de la Renta said in his acceptance speech. "And every year I get more passionate about it."

Oscar de la Renta

The ceremonies went smoothly until anti-fur activists from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals heckled Rome designer Valentino, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Security officials escorted the protesters from the hall, and Valentino calmly continued, thanking the industry for 40 years of support.

The International Award went to Jean-Paul Gaultier, known for his outrageous designs. Accessory Designer of the Year honors went to Richard Lambertson and John Truex, whose L-T logos grace their trendy bags.

Helmut Lang

Recognizing new talents

The CDFA also recognized newcomers with a series of Perry Ellis Awards, named in honor of the association's first president. Spanish designer Miguel Adrover, who is known for transforming such basics as Burberry raincoats and New York Yankee logos into his own original creations by turning them inside out or backward, won the Ellis Womenswear Award.

U.S. designer John Varvatos, who struck out on his own last year after holding top design posts at Ralph Lauren and at Calvin Klein, earned a similar honor for menswear. And Dean Harris, known for his sleek gold designs, won the Ellis Award for Accessory.

Valentino

Robert Kennedy Jr. presented Liz Claiborne with a humanitarian award for her environmental work, particularly in helping to fight the ivory trade in Africa.

Other notable presenters and audience members included models Jerry Hall, Gisele Bundchen and Elizabeth Hurley; actors Ben Stiller, Milla Jovovich and Ashley Judd; and comedienne Sandra Bernhard, who hosted the show.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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May 4, 1999
Lang designs for the millennium
February 19, 1999
NY Fashion Week rolls on with Westwood, Miller, de la Renta
February 17, 1999
Luxurious and long -- Oscar de la Renta for fall
October 5, 1998

Council of Fashion Designers of America
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Oscar de la Renta
Helmut Lang
Perry Ellis
Liz Claiborne

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