Chris Blakeslee has experience at Athleta and Alo Yoga. Kendra Scott will remain on board as executive chair and chief visionary officer.
Couture innovates with two new Design Awards
Show organizers have expanded the Couture Design Awards by two categories in order to honor jewelry that breaks new ground as well as pieces that are distinctively extravagant.
New York--Show organizers have expanded the Couture Design Awards by two categories in order to honor jewelry that breaks new ground as well as pieces that are distinctively extravagant.
The new “Innovative” category is for jewelry that incorporates unique materials, techniques and/or functionality in design while “Haute Couture” honors pieces for being distinctive in their exclusivity and/or extravagance.
The additions bring the total number of categories in the contest to 12.
“In closely reviewing the existing categories and weighing them against the entries we’ve seen in recent years, we’ve determined that ‘Innovative’ and ‘Haute Couture’ is a more accurate reflection of many of the pieces submitted by our designers,” said Couture Show Director Gannon Brousseau.
The Couture Design Awards are open to Couture exhibitors only. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 31 in the Encore Ballroom at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Also to be recognized that night is the recipient of the Couture Human Spirit Award, which honors an individual in the Couture community who demonstrates an “exceptional generosity of mind and spirit.”
Those who are nominated are leaders in the jewelry community, have a long-standing commitment to the needs of the industry, philanthropy toward humanitarian causes, and demonstrate a consistent standard of excellence and integrity in business that sets a positive example for everyone.
Designer David Yurman won the Human Spirit Award last year.
Couture and National Jeweler, as well as the JA New York shows, are owned by Emerald Expositions, an owner and operator of business-to-business tradeshows and related publications in the U.S.
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