Events & Awards

Accessories Council Accepting Entries for Annual Design Awards

Events & AwardsAug 05, 2024

Accessories Council Accepting Entries for Annual Design Awards

There are two categories for fine jewelry, as well as two for fashion/costume jewelry.

Trophy for Accessories Council Design Awards
The Accessories Council is accepting entries now through Aug. 30 for its sixth annual Design Excellence Awards. Members of the council’s board of directors choose the finalists, and the public votes on the winners. Finalists will be announced Sept. 10, and the winners will be revealed at a breakfast on Nov. 4.
New York—Designers still have time to enter pieces for consideration in the Accessories Council’s annual Design Excellence Awards.

The awards launched in 2019 to recognize the best in design across a wide variety of accessories, including handbags, sunglasses, eyeglasses, shoes, and jewelry.

There are four categories for jewelry: fine jewelry under $1,000 (suggested retail price); fine jewelry over $1,000 (SRP); fashion jewelry under $100 (SRP); and fashion jewelry over $100 (SRP). 

Last year’s winner in the fine jewelry category was Lagos for its 18-karat gold and diamond “Caviar” Apple Watch bracelet, and, in fashion jewelry, Brosway Italia’s “Chakra Mystic” bracelet and the ombre blue “Rock Stars” chandelier earrings from Nadri.

 Related stories will be right here … 

Members of the public vote on the winners from finalist pools selected by the Accessories Council’s board of directors. The council said it had more than 10,000 votes for products last year.

The board chooses the finalists based on 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.

Entries are being accepted now through Aug. 30.

Finalists will be announced in partnership with Fashionphile on the evening of Sept. 10 at Fashionphile’s flagship store on West 26th Street in New York. 

The winners will be revealed at the Design Excellence Awards breakfast, scheduled for Nov. 4 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at The Fifth Avenue Hotel, 1 W. 28th St.

For more information, visit the 2024 Design Excellence Awards website.

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