Q&a / Skye Hankey on philanthropy and supporting emerging designers via Fashion Trust US

Skye Hankey, who started out as a successful luxury property agent before marrying Rufus Hankey, the son of car loan mogul Don Hankey, is a regular at the White House and has graced glamorous events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards. She has also had a front-row seat to the inner workings of the fashion industry since she started appearing on red carpets around the world and hobnobbing with industry insiders such as Giambattista Valli and Fernando Garcia, and celebrities ranging from Kim Kardashian to Salma Hayek.

When looking for a fashion organisation to champion as part of her philanthropic portfolio, Hankey opted for Fashion Trust US, a non-profit set up in 2022 to support US-based fashion designers through grants and mentorship programmes. A spin-off of Fashion Trust Arabia, the entity has, over the years, awarded independent designers such as Rachel Scott of Diotima and honoured luminaries like Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent.