Last night the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2025 took place amid Milan Fashion Week, bringing together Italy’s and the world’s fashion elite to honor designers, artisans, brands, and industry participants striving toward a more circular, sustainable fashion economy.
Organized by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in collaboration with the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, the glamorous evening was hosted at the historic Teatro alla Scala. Now in its fourth year, the gala presented awards across categories including craft, creative vision, environmental justice, and advocacy for human rights and biodiversity.
Opening Ceremony & Tribute to Armani
The event opened with remarks from the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala. A central moment of the evening was a tribute to the late Giorgio Armani. Anna Wintour took the stage to speak about his enduring legacy. She explained that Armani understood power, attitude, and elegance like no one else in fashion, and that celebrating him was like reuniting with a family she never knew she had. She added that the Armani name has been so all-encompassing for so long that it is difficult to reduce it to a single moment. He revolutionized formal wear and, in doing so, transformed the industry itself.
Wintour then presented the Legacy Award to Armani’s longtime collaborators Leo Dell’Orco, Silvana Armani, and Andrea Camerana.
After the tribute, Roberto Bolle, principal dancer of La Scala, performed Ravel’s Boléro, creating an elegant, artistic mood before the awards segment began. Actress Shailene Woodley served as the evening’s host. Among the guests were Kelly Rutherford, the Missoni family, Daniel Lee from Burberry, and Iman.
Awards & Highlights
The awards celebrated achievements in social impact, sustainable practice, and innovation across supply chains. Zegna Group received the SFA Biodiversity and Water Award for its commitment to biodiversity and environmental stewardship, most visible in the Oasi Zegna project. Matteo Tamburini, creative director of Tod’s, accepted the SFA Craft and Artisanship Award. Kiton was honored with the SFA Education of Excellence Award for its school dedicated to training a new generation of tailors. The Sake Project, a regenerative fashion initiative led by Colombian designer Ana Tafur, won the Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers. Willy Chavarria received the SFA Diversity and Inclusion Award.
In his acceptance speech, Chavarria emphasized that diversity and inclusion are essential in today’s world. He explained that the stories told through fashion can safeguard cultural identities and that it is up to all to unite and promote people as they truly are.
The full list of winners can be found in the original coverage.
Red Carpet Moments
Here are the standout red carpet looks from the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2025, with appearances by Daniel Lee, Kelly Rutherford, Iman, and many others.
