Henry Zankov, who founded his namesake label in 2020 after more than 15 years designing and consulting for brands including DKNY/Donna Karan, Edun and Diane von Furstenberg, will be recognized at the annual WWD Honors gala with the WWD One to Watch Honor.
Zankov told WWD his approach has been "slow and steady," and that growth from the label's start has been steady and meaningful. "Helmut Lang said this back in the '90s - 'Everything I do is a work in progress,'" he said.
Over six years, the Russian-born, American founder and creative director has grown Zankov from a colorful emerging knitwear label into a full fashion brand. In September 2025 he made his runway debut with his spring 2026 collection, adding tailoring and evening, during New York Fashion Week. He has collaborated with Selima Optique, Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor and DVF, and won the Google Shopping American Emerging Designer of the Year Award at the 2024 CFDA Fashion Awards. This month he released a 27-piece capsule with Banana Republic.
In April he was appointed DVF's first artistic director, and in September unveiled his first runway collection for the brand, a spring 2027 line. Zankov described Zankov as smaller and more experimental, and DVF as more sensual, with crossover in color, pattern and ease. He said a main goal at DVF is to uphold von Furstenberg's legacy while making the brand desirable again, and that DVF could be more than just dresses. DVF returned to wholesale after taking the business back in-house from licensee Glamel in February 2025.
Zankov named Jack Tobin as chief executive officer and business partner in October. Since partnering with Jack Tobin Agency two years ago, the company said Zankov has grown its international business more than tenfold and doubled its global stockist network.
Originally reported by WWD