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"Success comes to the underdog who doesn't let sleeping dogs lie...
The (DE-FI) Guild Honors
Presented by the (DE-FI) Global INC: Where Legacy, Craft, and Impact Are Recognized
About the Honors
The (DE-FI) Guild Honors are not your average fashion awards. Created by the (DE-FI) Global INC Fashion Guild, this recognition stands as a bold statement: fashion is more than followers, popularity, or press. It’s about work, excellence, impact, and the legacy we build.
Rooted in craftsmanship and powered by purpose.
The (DE-FI) Guild Honors shine a light on those who move fashion forward from the inside out, designers, makers, thinkers, educators, and doers whose work is often overlooked by mainstream awards but whose influence is undeniable. This is fashion without compromise and a recognition system built for the culture and the craft, not just the camera.
Our Pillars: What We Honor
Each (DE-FI) Guild Honor recipient is selected based on one or more of the following core values and contributions to fashion's infrastructure:
- Craftsmanship & Technical Excellence- Honoring mastery in construction, sewing, textile innovation, and all the behind-the-scenes brilliance that defines real fashion skill.
- Innovation & Risk- Recognizing those who challenge tradition, create new models, or blaze bold paths in fashion design, business, or storytelling.
- Sustainability & Ethics - For those using fashion as a tool for environmental stewardship, fair labor, circularity, and socially responsible practice.
- Community Impact & Mentorship- Celebrating individuals and organizations uplifting underserved creatives, investing in others, and building the next generation.
- Legacy & Longevity- For trailblazers with a track record of excellence, consistency, and influence across decades, not just seasons.
- Emerging Excellence- For rising talents who may not have the platform yet but whose vision, ethic, and execution signal a bright future in fashion.
- Cultural Narrative & Storytelling- Honoring those telling powerful, overlooked, or revolutionary stories through garments, visuals, and fashion discourse.
The Selection Process: Built on Credibility
We don’t do popularity contests. The (DE-FI) Guild Honors are decided through a multi-phase, peer-reviewed process guided by integrity and insight.
How It Works:
- Nomination by Guild or Industry Peers
- No open submissions or pay-to-play.
Blind Review Phase
Each nomination is anonymized to eliminate bias. Judging focuses on impact, work, and alignment with our pillars,not names or social media stats.
- Scored by a Rotating Jury of Industry Experts
Our jury includes trusted professionals from across sectors design, education, manufacturing, media, and more who rotate annually to ensure fairness and fresh perspectives.
No Entry Fees. No Clout Games.
We don’t believe recognition should come with a price tag. This is about the work.
Eligibility & Equity
- Fashion should be for everyone, not just those with access to elite circles.
- Geographically Inclusive: We honor excellence from all regions, not just the fashion capitals.
- Cross-Industry Recognition: From patternmakers to producers, educators to engineers, models to merchandisers, if you shape fashion, you're eligible.
- Barrier-Free Access: No submission fees, no vanity metrics, no gatekeeping.
Why It Matters
Too often, fashion awards are based on visibility non-industry related individuals voting based on social media promotion...and not value. At (DE-FI), we reject that model.
The (DE-FI) Guild Honors were created to uplift the true builders of this industry those working in silence, those mentoring without applause, those breaking generational cycles with a single thread and vision. This honor is not given, it’s earned and is about who’s transforming the industry.
Coming Soon: Nomination Criteria, Jury Announcement & Ceremony Details
Stay tuned for the official call for nominations and ceremony announcements.
In the meantime, follow [@DEFiGlobalINC] on Instagram and join us in reshaping fashion’s foundation, one honor at a time.
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Website Update in Progress!!
We’re currently refreshing and updating our website including important forms and features to better serve you! Some areas may be temporarily unavailable as we work behind the scenes. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Our goal is to have everything updated and ready by Saturday, July 5th.In the meantime, be on the lookout for invitations and RSVP links for Dayton Fashion Week. Emails will come from:info@defiglobalinc.com with a sender name: (DE-FI) Global INC. Make sure to check your inbox and spam folders deadlines are approaching!