Meet the first Black president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America

Representation in every sphere of our lives speaks volumes as every demographic in the world has something to offer. Sadly, it has taken a while but the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced CaSandra Diggs as its new president.

She was formerly the Chief Administrative and Financial officer; however, this promotion opens more doors as she steers the affairs of the prestigious fashion organisation.

Diggs will be reporting to CFDA CEO Steven Kolb and the Board of Directors, of which designer Tom Ford is currently chairman. She has been with the CFDA since 2001 and according to the CFDA, “she will be charged with developing strategy and making decisions that further the CFDA’s purpose to champion, educate, and support its membership and the fashion industry-at-large.”

CFDA CEO Kolb said in a statement, “CaSandra is an innovative thinker with a strong understanding of organizational and business operations.

“Expanding her role will provide the CFDA with more opportunity to meet the needs of the membership in a broad and diverse way. It is a critical time for our industry, and she is the right person with the right ideas to help lead CFDA into the future.”

Many might have heard this a billion times over since the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not in ordinary times because every aspect of our lives has been affected by the pandemic. The fashion industry is no different as it has been hit drastically by the virus.

This is indeed a “critical time” as the future of Fashion Week organised by the CFDA hangs in the balance with an overwhelming amount stipulated to be lost due to current happenings.

However, the CFDA has availed its outfit to both well-known and lesser-known designers in these trying times and has recently collaborated with Harlem’s Fashion Row and assisted in creating the ICON 360 Fund, a $1 million fund for BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) designers affected by the COVID crisis, among other enterprises.

On her appointment, Diggs said: “CFDA remains a vital pillar of the fashion community. I am delighted to join Tom Ford and Steven Kolb as we continue to advance and evolve the CFDA into a modern, forward-thinking organization that is reflective of our times.”