The Council of Fashion Designers of America—aka the CFDA to fashion nerds—held their awards ceremony tonight. Of the big categories, one to watch was the Swarovski Award for Menswear. Nominated in the category were Todd Snyder, Tim Coppens, and Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School.
It was announced that Public School snagged the award.
“We are honored and extremely grateful for this award. We were competing against very
talented designers. To be recognized by our peers, editors and the fashion industry is an
incredible moment,” says Chow of the win.
Public School has earned its reputation for mixing tailored menswear with a streetwear influence. It's a decidedly New York brand run by two men with their eyes in tune with the streets and a uniquely New York state of mind. That's why they were also nominees for Complex's Man of Next Year Awards last year. Chow and Osborne cut their teeth in the streetwear world as designers for Sean John, and their other brand,Black Apple, keeps them fairly rooted in that industry.
But Public School is a different monster entirely—high-fashion with a dark, directional perspective and enough grit to sharpen a knife against. The win is a coup for the two designers, who not only were nominated for the first time this year, but also benefactors of the CFDA Fashion Incubator's inaugural class—a program that really helped them take their label to the next level.
Co-designer Maxwell Osborne adds: “We are thankful to the CFDA and Swarovski for creating this amazing platform for American designers. The menswear award is truly an honor.”
Congratulations to Public School on the win.
