The First Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards Announced -- Handbag Designer 101 and Fashion Center BID Honor Excellence
Handbag Designer 101, in conjunction with The Fashion Center BID announced the winners of the first annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 20th, at the Museum of the City of New York. The award winners are: Best Student Made Handbag - Charmaine Ho of Me Char, Best Handmade Handbag - JP Dewberry of SoVi - Southern Vitality, Handbag Designer 101 Audience Selected Handbag - Julie Lazarus of Elezar, Most Socially Responsible Handbag - Maria Estrada of IGNES Handbags, Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design - Katherine Kwei of Katherine Kwei. Famous designer Carlos Falchi received the first Lifetime Achievement Award at this event. Falchi has changed the landscape of accessory design.
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 30, 2007 -- Handbag Designer 101, in conjunction with The Fashion Center BID announced the winners of the first annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 20th, at the Museum of the City of New York.
The Independent Handbag Designer Awards provided an opportunity for budding designers to break into the notoriously exclusive fashion and accessory business. Designers of the most stylish and trendy handbags squared off against one another with 5 awards given for Handbag Design Excellence. The pressure was on and creativity took over as the contenders designed competing handbags for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show their work among their peers in New York City, the fashion capital of the world.
Famous designer Carlos Falchi received the first Lifetime Achievement Award at this event. Falchi has changed the landscape of accessory design. For more than three decades, he has earned international acclaim as an innovative designer of modern, cutting-edge handbags and accessories.
Handbag Designer 101 - the handbag designer resource (www.handbagdesigner101.com), is a hotspot website where handbag designers, aficionados and experts unite to find undiscovered handbags by independent designers; learn about the latest handbag trends; see the handbags that celebrities are wearing today and find out about the latest handbag shopping events. The brainchild of Yasmena and Yazzy Bag creator and handbag designer consultant, Emily Blumenthal, Handbag Designer 101 bridges the gap between designer handbag fan blogs and high-fashion websites.
"This handbag competition offered a unique platform to talented and undiscovered designers to receive the validation and accolades that are long overdue for being an independent handbag designer and become the latest 'it' bag," says Blumenthal. "We were thrilled with the number of entries from aspiring designers and the amazing response we had to our first IHDA. We are looking forward to next year and seeing the Independent Handbag Designer Awards grow as an industry event."
A Fashion Panel of judges consisted of: Carrie Chapman (Senior Accessories Buyer for Barneys New York), Rebecca Weinberg (Emmy Award Winning costume designer and stylist), Phyllis Magidson (Curator of costume design and textiles for the Museum of the City of New York), Paula Correri (Accessories Editor of the Tobe Report), Julia Poteat (Assistant Professor of Fashion Methods for Parsons The New School For Design), Robin Beck (Accessories Editor for CosmoGIRL! Magazine) and Irenka Jakubiak (Editorial and Fashion Director, Accessories Magazine).
The award winners are as follows:
| | - Best Student Made Handbag: Charmaine Ho of Me Char
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Presented by Barbara Blair Randall, Executive Director of the Fashion Center Business Improvement District
| | - Best Handmade Handbag: JP Dewberry of SoVi - Southern Vitality
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Presented by Rosy Ngo, Editorial Director of Potter Craft/Random House
| | - Handbag Designer 101 Audience Selected Handbag: Julie Lazarus of Elezar
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Presented by Robin Beck, Accessories Editor of CosmoGIRL!
| | - Most Socially Responsible Handbag: Maria Estrada of IGNES Handbags
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Presented by Gabrielle Gilliam, Executive Director of the Bottomless Closet
| | - Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design: Katherine Kwei of Katherine Kwei
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Presented by Irenka Jakubiak, Editorial and Fashion Director for Accessories Magazine
| | - Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Carlos Falchi
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Presented by Lincoln Moore, Vice-President and Divisional Merchandising Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue
In addition to the title in their respective categories, the winners received a monetary prize, as well as gift certificates to the Garment Center's renowned stores, Rosen and Chadick Fabrics, M & J Trimming, Clothing Labels 4 you.com, free publicity representation from LookBook Media, a slot on Karen Salmansohn's radio show "Be Happy Dammit," and a feature in the August and October issue of Accessories Magazine.
For more than a decade the Fashion Center has created and supported new and emerging talent in the fashion industry -- making this event a natural fit.
As part of the awards, the winners will be featured in the The Fashion Center BID's display window in the heart of the fashion district at 209 West 38th St. through September of 2007.
"The Handbag Awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent of up and coming accessories designers," said Barbara Blair Randall, Executive Director of the Fashion Center BID. "While home to the great names in fashion, the district is really built with the entrepreneurial spirit of thousands of new and small design businesses. These awards really celebrated that creative spirit."
Over 400 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers attended the awards event, including Sandra Wilson, Lisa Smilor from the CFDA, Carrie Chapman, Irenka Jakubiak from Accessories Magazine, Robin Beck, accessories editor from Cosmogirl, Lauren Painter from Barneys New York, Gaia Somasca from Vogue Pelle, Christine Standall from Coach, Claire Watson from Doyle Auction House, Eileen Warner, Karen Giberson from the Accessories Council, Debra Kalish and Valerie Litman from Henri Bendel.
The main underwriting sponsor of the event was Wells Fargo Century, the largest bank-affiliated factoring company in the United States, providing companies with senior secured loans and factoring services. "We have built our business supporting small businesses by providing working capital funding which allows them to grow," said Thomas V. Pizzo, Chairman of Wells Fargo Century, Inc. "It is the foundation of what we do and we are especially active in the accessories market, which of course includes handbags."
Additional sponsors included: Garment Industry Development Corporation, Parsons -The New School of Design, Wathne Limited, M&J Trimming, Global Leathers, Rosen & Chadick Fabrics, Gotham Bank of New York, Verve Boutique, RIRI Zippers/Pacific Trimmings, Bags for Me.com, International Bag Corporation, Clothing Labels 4U.com and the Bottomless Closet.
For complete information check the website: www.handbagdesigner101.com; http://www.handbagdesigner101.com/ihda_2007_pictures
The Fashion Center Business Improvement District (www.fashioncenter.com), a not-for-profit corporation, was established in 1993 to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of Manhattan's Fashion District. Through programs in the areas of streetscape improvements, sanitation and public safety services, marketing and promotions, economic development, and community service, efforts are aimed at promoting the district as a strategic midtown business location and ensuring New York's position as the fashion capital of the world. The Fashion Center has created numerous programs for the industry including Designers Forum, Tools of the Trade, The Fashion Center Information Kiosk, New York Fashion International and many others.
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