Denim took centre stage at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards, with GapStudio, Ralph Lauren and several fashion industry figures bringing the enduring fabric into the spotlight during the ceremony in New York City on Monday, 2 November. The 45th annual event, held at the American Museum of Natural History, celebrated American fashion and recognised designers and brands for their contributions to the industry.
Among the evening's notable moments was Gap Inc.'s recognition with the Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion, alongside a series of denim-focused looks that highlighted different approaches to the familiar material. Actress Demi Moore was among the guests who brought denim to the red carpet, wearing a custom GapStudio creation designed by Zac Posen. The look offered an eveningwear interpretation of classic jeans, while other attendees and fashion figures incorporated denim into their outfits in different ways.
Demi Moore Wears Custom GapStudio Denim Gown
Moore arrived in a floor-length denim gown created by Posen, Gap Inc.'s executive vice president and creative director. The custom design reworked recognisable details from traditional jeans into a sculptural evening silhouette.
The dark indigo gown featured a halter-style neckline and a fitted bodice constructed from layered denim waistbands. Silver buttons, belt loops and other familiar jean details formed part of the design, while the long skirt featured a central slit and a slight train.
The actress completed the outfit with a denim handbag designed by Reed Krakoff, Gap's executive director of accessories, alongside suede heels and diamond drop earrings. Posen said the design was developed by deconstructing the familiar elements of classic jeans and reimagining them as elevated eveningwear. The creation brought Gap's signature denim identity into a formal red-carpet setting. Moore also took part in the ceremony as the presenter of Gap Inc.'s Innovation Award, which was accepted by company chief executive Richard Dickson and Posen.
Lupita Nyong'o Also Wears GapStudio Creations
GapStudio's presence at the ceremony extended beyond Moore's denim gown, with actress Lupita Nyong'o also wearing custom designs from the label. Her red-carpet outfit included a cherry-red two-piece ensemble paired with a denim jacket. She later changed into a navy dress styled with a denim bomber jacket and clutch for the cocktail reception.
For the award presentation, Nyong'o changed into a custom white GapStudio gown featuring a plunging neckline and a gathered waist. She later completed the evening in a navy-blue dress styled with a cropped denim bomber jacket and matching denim clutch.
Gap Inc. Receives CFDA Innovation Award
Gap Inc. was recognised with the fifth annual Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion at the 2026 CFDA Awards. The award acknowledges companies and individuals driving innovation in fashion through product development, branding and storytelling. Gap Inc. was recognised for its approach to American style and its creative collaborations across its brand portfolio.
Founded in 1969 in San Francisco, the company operates Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta. Its recent collaborations and campaigns have included partnerships spanning fashion, music and entertainment.
Dickson and Posen accepted the recognition on behalf of the company. Moore presented the award during the ceremony. The recognition also came as Gap continued to place denim at the heart of its brand identity, using the material in both everyday collections and more experimental fashion projects.
Ralph Lauren and Other Winners at the 2026 CFDA Awards
Denim was one of the ceremony's fashion themes, and the awards also recognised established designers and emerging talent across several categories. Ralph Lauren received the American Menswear Designer of the Year award, presented by Matt Damon and Tremaine Emory. Rachel Scott of Diotima won American Womenswear Designer of the Year, while Ana Khouri was named American Accessory Designer of the Year.
Colleen Allen received the Google Shopping American Emerging Designer of the Year award. Other honourees included Anthony Vaccarello, who received the International Designer of the Year Award, and Peter Marino, who was recognised with the Fashion Icon Award. Tory Burch received the Positive Change Award, while Eva Chen was honoured with the Media Award in honour of Eugenia Sheppard. Linda Fargo received the Founder's Award in honour of Eleanor Lambert.
Hosted by Keke Palmer, the ceremony brought together designers, celebrities and fashion industry figures to recognise achievements across American and international fashion. With GapStudio's custom creations placing familiar denim details in a formal setting, the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards provided another platform for the material to feature in contemporary designer fashion.
