Accessories Council Excellence Awards Celebrate Industry Leaders
The accessories industry gathered on Tuesday night at New York’s Pierre Hotel to celebrate the Accessories Council Excellence Awards, coinciding with the organization’s 30th-anniversary milestone.
The awards show honored designers and executives across the accessories industry, with Coach awarded Brand of the Year, Prabal Gurung for Designer of the Year, Fern Mallis for Hall of Fame, and Larroudé for Rising Star, among others.
Mallis, who received her award from TV personality Tamron Hall, reflected on her upbringing and its impact on her career in fashion. She shared, “I grew up in the accessories business. My father was a salesman for scarves and my love of this industry started by going to work with him every possible day off from school.”
The Hall of Fame award marked Mallis’ second honor of the day, as she and Stan Herman were honored with a bench in their names in Bryant Park.
Gurung, awarded Designer of the Year, used his acceptance speech to address current events, stating, “I’m quite surprised and astounded to see that we’re not able to have nuanced conversations around what’s happening all around the world and all around us.”
Linda Fargo received the Style Icon award from Michael Kors, emphasizing the importance of developing personal style over time. Marina Larroudé, chief creative officer of Larroudé, highlighted the brand’s growth and collaborations since its launch during the pandemic in 2020.
Other awards were given to Cult Gaia for Design Innovation, Foster Grant for Legacy Award, Aria Logistics for Operational Excellence, Elyse Walker for Specialty Retailer, Dana Covarrubias for Style Influencer, and Jared for Retailer of the Year.
Notable attendees included Chrissy Teigen, Awkwafina, Marni Senofonte, Coco Rocha, Vera Wang, Rebecca Minkoff, Lynn Yaeger, and Stuart Vevers, among others.