For its 50th American Image Awards, the American Apparel & Footwear Association will honor a host of visionaries behind the brands, ideas and movements shaping fashion’s future.
The gala takes place on April 21 at Gotham Hall in New York, with the Council of Fashion Designers of America once again serving as the event’s charitable beneficiary.
Emceeing the night will be Emmy Award-winning journalist and contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning,” Alina Cho.
The 2026 recipients include Fabletics, the digitally native activewear brand, as company of the year; Zac Posen, executive vice president, creative director of Gap Inc. and chief creative officer of Old Navy, as designer of the year; Avery Dennison as global innovator; Timberland as fashion maverick; Afirm Group as eco-steward of the year; Seth Campbell and Josué Solano of BBC International, a global footwear firm, as co-recipients of the Trailblazer Award, and Ruben Toledo, the world-renowned artist who along with his late wife, Isabel Toledo, conceived the American Image Awards statuette, will receive the Icon Award.
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Ruben Toledo will be honored for his enduring influence across art, fashion and culture, with a nod to Isabel’s spirit and vision.
Posen’s extensive career has included red-carpet couture, ready-to-wear, accessories and costume design, and he worked for his namesake brand and Brooks Brothers and redesigned Delta Airlines uniforms before joining Gap. He was invited to be a member of France’s Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and is known for his technical excellence and body-positive designs.
Bill Toney, vice president, advanced technology, Solutions Group at Avery Dennison, will accept his company’s award for being at the forefront of innovation and shaping the apparel industry, while Nina Flood, global brand president of Timberland, the global lifestyle brand rooted in the outdoors, will accept her company’s fashion maverick award. The eco-steward award will be accepted by Nathaniel Sponsler, director of Afirm Group, the global association of the world’s leading apparel and footwear companies.
“As we celebrate 50 years of the American Image Awards, and 250 years of America, we are excited to honor the legacy of our industry while recognizing the visionaries who are fashioning our future,” said Steve Lamar, president and chief executive officer of AAFA. “We’re proud to recognize this year’s honorees for their dedication and positive contributions across the many different roles that help Americans get dressed every day.”
Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA, said, “The American Image Awards is a moment for our industry to pause, reflect and celebrate the stories that have shaped fashion over the past year. It’s also a time to recognize how those stories weave stories weave together, lining the threads for continued innovation and advancement across every corner of our industry.”
