What: Several past recipients of the Distinguished Service Award recall the impact of receiving the award from the Dallas-based department store.

Why it is important: The department store has been able to have a significant impact on designers’ success in the US while also building long-lasting relationships with luxury fashion houses through its renowned award.

The Distinguished Service Award was founded 85 years ago and has been awarded to many iconic designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren, among many others. The award has been given to more than 100 luxury fashion leaders and has had a significant impact on designers’ careers, especially European designers with jumpstarting their businesses in the US. This year’s recipient of the award will be Brunello Cucinelli.

For many of the designers, going to Dallas to receive the award was the first time they had ever been to the States. When Gabrielle Chanel landed, it was the first time an international plane had landed at the Dallas airport. Karl Lagerfeld also received the award during his time at Chanel, stating that the award presented to Gabrielle in 1957 did a lot to re-establish her image in the U.S.

For Carolina Herrera, the last recipient of the award in 2016, Neiman Marcus has been a loyal partner since the inception of their brand, and the group has supported the luxury fashion house over the past four decades, especially during the pandemic.

Missoni received the award in 1973 as their first international prize. This award felt the most important to them as it recognized the style they had invented. It was especially important in introducing the brand to the American market and the brand has remained in Neiman Marcus since, one of the longest continuous collaborations the brand has had in its commercial history.

In 1947, Christian Dior received the “Oscar of Fashion” months after opening his house and introducing the iconic New Look. For him, it was much more than a personal accolade as he felt that the awakening of French fashion was being recognized. His trip to the US inspired his future silhouettes and he was also able to discover the impact of his creations on American society.

Giorgio Armani was the recipient of the award in 1979, and stated that it gave him legitimacy in the States as he label had only been in existence for four years. The strong relationship between Neiman’s and Armani started because of the award and introduced the Italian fashion house to the American customer, allowing the brand to see international success.

Memories of the Neiman Marcus Award