The Accessories Council announced on Thursday that the seventh annual Design Excellence Awards will take place in New York City this November at The Fifth Avenue Hotel. Entries are open and will be accepted until Aug. 29. Finalists will be announced Sept. 9.
“We look forward to welcoming submissions from both emerging and established talent for this year’s Design Excellence Awards,” said Karen Giberson, president and chief executive officer of the Accessories Council. “We encourage designers to be bold and creative, and to join us in this unique opportunity to earn a stamp of approval from respected industry leaders.”
The Accessories Council will honor brands across accessories categories from handbags to eyewear (optical and sun), footwear, jewelry (fashion and fine), tech and innovation, and more disciplines.
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Additionally, the Accessories Council will select its prestigious Hall of Fame Award recipient of the year, which recognizes one single iconic product or brand that has stood the test of time as determined by the Accessories Council Board. The 2024 recipient of this honor was Citizen, a Japanese watch brand that commemorated its 100th anniversary last year.
The Accessories Council will determine finalists based on such criteria as excellence in design, unique appearance and/or function, consumer needs addressed by product, appropriate aesthetics, innovative materials or technology, market positioning and competitive performance, social images, emotional appeal and sustainability. The criterion mirrors consumer evaluation when determining purchases.
Sponsors of the forthcoming 2025 Design Excellence Awards include Caleres, Circana, and Marchon Eyewear. November’s award recipients will receive a trophy designed by Marchon Eyewear.
