Vilcek Foundation Awards Five Immigrants $250,000 for Fashion Documentation

Fashion is more than clothing. The 2026 Vilcek Prizes in Fashion & Culture acknowledge those who preserve fashion history and enrich its documentation through photography, museum curations, historical database development, and educational programming. As part of its mission to uplift US immigrants working in the arts and sciences, the Vilcek Foundation has awarded $250,000 to five immigrant fashion professionals: Tanya Meléndez-Escalante, Diego Bendezu, Jalan and Jibril Durimel, and Natalie Nudell. 

These prizes spotlight the importance of immigrants and fashion to the arts, with the Vilcek Foundation recognizing those foreign-born individuals who work behind the scenes to document fashion as a reflection of society in ways that honor their heritage and cultural histories. 

Tanya Meléndez-Escalante, 2026 Vilcek Prize in Fashion & Culture

Tanya Meléndez-Escalante received this $100,000 prize for her work as an arts administrator and fashion curator at The Museum at FIT (MFIT), where she develops meaningful exhibitions and programs that reveal the variety of talent across Latin America. Originally from Mexico, Meléndez-Escalante has created numerous educational programs built on international collaboration and inclusivity. 

The four recipients of the $50,000 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture are Diego Bendezu, Jalan and Jibril Durimel, and Natalie Nudell. 

Diego Bendezu, 2026 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture

Diego Bendezu is a powerful visual storyteller who centers Latin American and immigrant narratives in his work, reshaping how the fashion industry sees beauty and cultural authenticity. Originally from Peru, Bendezu’s love for photography began when his parents gave him a camera and a camcorder to document his daily life when they left to work abroad in the United States. 

Jalan and Jibril Durimel, 2026 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture

Twin brothers and creative partners Jalan and Jibril Durimel are recognized for their ability to present fashion as part of a broader, evocative exploration of fictitious storytelling, color, and light. Born in France to parents from Guadeloupe, the Durimels were raised in Miami and St. Maarten. The various cultures that shaped their upbringing informed their photography practice, through which they inspire audiences to be curious about other people, places, and clothing.

Natalie Nudell, 2026 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture

Through writing, research, and database development, Natalie Nudell preserves the holistic history of fashion in the US. Born in Canada to European and Middle Eastern immigrant parents, Nudell is a fashion and textile historian at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), SUNY, where she created the Fashion Calendar Research Database (FCRD) to illuminate how underrepresented communities are integral to the foundation of the fashion industry. 

The Vilcek Foundation prizes salute immigrant contributions to societal advancement in the US,  recognizing excellence in the arts and sciences. Since its inception, the prizes program has awarded $9.6 million to individuals whose perspectives, creativity, and vision have enriched the United States. 

To learn more, visit vilcek.org.

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