National Design Awards

Narciso Rodriguez launched his signature women's clothing line in 1997, and in a short time captured widespread admiration for his sensual tailoring, fine design, and exquisite craftsmanship. A Cuban American and New Jersey native, Rodriguez is inspired by his love of minimal architecture that started when he was a child. Consequently, he compares his approach to the design of a garment with the way an architect designs a building, using seaming for structure to create interesting lines and shapes. Rodriguez relates strongly to creation of form from structure and material, and prefers a primarily black and white palette to emphasize his forms. Ultimately, his designs achieve a sleek subtlety that he believes is "the key to allure." Rodriguez is the first designer in history to receive consecutive Womenwear Designer of the Year awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, in 2002 and 2003.