National Arts Club to Award Medal of Honor to Joseph Abboud

The designer will be honored for his contributions to the fashion industry

The National Arts Club is proud to announce that fashion designer Joseph Abboud will be honored with the Club’s Medal of Honor in the field of fashion. He will be the first menswear designer in the Club’s 125 year history to receive this prestigious award. The award ceremony will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the landmarked Tilden Mansion, the home of the NAC, at 15 Gramercy Park South, New York City.

“Joseph Abboud is a true American icon and is the first designer of menswear to receive the prestigious National Arts Club Medal of Honor in Fashion,” said David Zyla, co-chair of the Club’s fashion committee. “Abboud has inspired and guided men for decades in their sartorial choices, empowering them with his sumptuous color palettes and masterful use of tailoring.”

“How wonderful to be receiving The National Arts Club’s Medal of Honor!” said Abboud. “To be in the company of the many distinguished recipients of the Club’s 125 year history is a very special personal milestone in my career. There is something magical when fashion and art embrace, and to be the first ever menswear designer recognized by this extraordinary organization dedicated to the arts is truly an honor I’ll always cherish.”

Abboud’s illustrious career includes twelve years at renowned luxury retailer Louis Boston and three years as the Director of Menswear Design for Polo Ralph Lauren. In 1987, he launched his namesake brand, Joseph Abboud. His unique application of color, masterful tailoring, and dedication to craftsmanship have defined a style sensibility that stands apart in the world of fashion.

Speakers for the evening include acclaimed actor Chazz Palminteri, TV anchor and journalist Ernie Anastos, and Women’s Wear Daily Editorial Director James Fallon. The event will also feature a pop-up exhibition comprising 18 outfits from the Joseph Abboud archives presented on hand-painted mannequins.

The National Arts Club Medal of Honor is awarded to exemplary leaders in their respective fields, from fine art and fashion to dance, theater, and music. Previous honorees for fashion include Narciso Rodriguez in 2018, Anna Sui in 2020, and Valerie Steele in 2022.

About Joseph Abboud

Boston native Joseph Abboud studied comparative literature at the University of Massachusetts and attended the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1968, Abboud joined the prestigious luxury retailer Louis Boston; later, he went on to serve as the Director of Menswear Design for Polo Ralph Lauren. Abboud launched his namesake brand in 1987, establishing an exceptional sensibility infused with intelligence, grace, and ease. Abboud has been accorded numerous honors, including the distinction of being the only designer to have received two consecutive CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year awards in 1989 and 1990. He also received the Special Achievement Award from The Neckwear Association of America in 1994. Other awards included The Cutty Sark Award for Most Promising Menswear Designer in 1988 and the Woolmark Award for Distinguished Fashion in 1989 and 1993. Other prestigious awards included Person of the Year from the American Apparel & Footwear Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award from MR Magazine in 2016.

Abboud joined Tailored Brands Inc. as its Chief Creative Director in 2012 and was reunited with Joseph Abboud brand when Tailored Brands Inc. acquired JA Holding Inc. in 2013. In 2015, Abboud launched his Joseph Abboud Black Label Collection. Most recently, Abboud hosted a weekly lifestyle radio show, Threads, on WABC, which was broadcast nationally. Currently, Abboud continues on his creative journey, working on a new label and finishing his mystery novel based on the dark side of the fashion industry.

About the National Arts Club

Founded in 1898, the National Arts Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and to educate the American people in the fine arts. Annually, the Club offers more than 150 free programs—both in-person and virtually—to the public, including exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances, lectures, and readings, attracting an audience of over 30,000 in-person visitors and thousands more online. The NAC is also a proud community partner, serving the public through fellowships, concert series, youth education programs, and more. For a full list of events or to learn more, please visit nationalartsclub.org.