Accessories Council
Encyclopedia
The Accessories Council is a not-for-profit, national trade association that was established in 1994 with the mission of increasing consumer use and awareness of accessories. As of 2005, Karen Giberson is the group’s president. Its previous president, Sheila Block, led the group from 1996 to 2005.
The organization sponsors educational seminars, networking events, seasonal trend reports, marketing and advertising co-op initiatives, design and marketing awards for area fashion students, an annual silent auction, the ultimate designer accessories sample sale with LIM called “Sale into Summer”, and the esteemed black tie ACE Award Gala, an annual tribute to the leaders of the accessory industry.
(FIT)http://www.fitnyc.edu/ and the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
(LIM), designed to celebrate the work of young talent and provide internship opportunities for the graduates.
The Next Generation Awards: FIT features an accessories exhibition that includes designs from students enrolled in the institute’s accessory and jewelry design programs. Students compete for design awards in handbag, footwear, belts/small leather goods, hat and glove, and jewelry categories.
The Next Generation Awards: LIM is a special program focusing on encouraging the marketing skills of tomorrow’s business leaders. The event features an exhibition by the graduates of LIM’s marketing program, who competed for awards in the categories of retail store, accessory product and publication development.
Vision Monday talks about Next Generation Awards
Hall of Fame Awards have been given to Elaine Gold, president of Elaine Gold Enterprises and founder of Collection XIIX; Mary Belle, president of licensing for the Jones Apparel Group
; and Marge Axelrad, senior vice president & editorial director of the Jobson Optical Group’s Vision Monday and 20/20 magazines.
and the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
, to offer member companies an early chance to hire talented entry-level employees and interns.
Participating companies have included Cole Haan
, Steve Madden
, Isabella Fiore, Kenneth Cole
and Jones Apparel Group
.
The two-day event offers designer accessories from dozens of brands that are deeply discounted. A silent auction, featuring many items donated by celebrities, is also held.
Proceeds from Sale Into Summer benefit The Children’s Action Network, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of children, with a focus on adoption and foster care programs.
Year
2007
ACE Award
N/A
Designer of the Year
Marc Jacobs
Retailer of the Year
Macy’s
Year
2006
ACE Award
Jennifer Lopez
Designer of the Year
Michael Kors
Retailer of the Year
Bergdorf Goodman
Year
2005
ACE Award
Mary-Kate Olsen
& Ashley Olsen
Designer of the Year
Oscar de la Renta
Retailer of the Year
NeimanMarcus.com
Year
2004
ACE Award
Kim Cattrall
Designer of the Year
Gordon Thompson III for Cole Haan
Retailer of the Year
Bloomingdale’s
Year
2003
ACE Award
The Women of Broadway
Designer of the Year
Reed Krakoff for Coach
Retailer of the Year
Henri Bendel
Year
2002
ACE Award
Debra Messing
Designer of the Year
Tom Ford
for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Retailer of the Year
Lord & Taylor
/Neiman Marcus
(tie)
Year
2001
ACE Award
Tina Knowles
Year
2000
ACE Award
Patricia Field
& Rebecca Weinberg
Year
1999
ACE Award
Linda Dano
Year
1998
ACE Award
Kathie Lee Gifford
Year
1997
ACE Award
Joan Rivers
The organization sponsors educational seminars, networking events, seasonal trend reports, marketing and advertising co-op initiatives, design and marketing awards for area fashion students, an annual silent auction, the ultimate designer accessories sample sale with LIM called “Sale into Summer”, and the esteemed black tie ACE Award Gala, an annual tribute to the leaders of the accessory industry.
Membership
Over the past twelve years, membership has grown to include more than 150 corporations representing the world's leading brand names, designers, publications, retailers and associated providers for the accessories, eyewear and footwear industries. Membership rates are determined by the annual sales volume of a company .Next Generation Awards
Each year, the Accessories Council hosts student competitions for the graduating classes of the Fashion Institute of TechnologyFashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
(FIT)http://www.fitnyc.edu/ and the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
LIM College is a private for-profit coeducational undergraduate and graduate educational institution focused on the business aspects of the fashion industry. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, and was founded in 1939 by Maxwell F...
(LIM), designed to celebrate the work of young talent and provide internship opportunities for the graduates.
The Next Generation Awards: FIT features an accessories exhibition that includes designs from students enrolled in the institute’s accessory and jewelry design programs. Students compete for design awards in handbag, footwear, belts/small leather goods, hat and glove, and jewelry categories.
The Next Generation Awards: LIM is a special program focusing on encouraging the marketing skills of tomorrow’s business leaders. The event features an exhibition by the graduates of LIM’s marketing program, who competed for awards in the categories of retail store, accessory product and publication development.
Vision Monday talks about Next Generation Awards
Hall of Fame Tribute Series
The Accessories Council Hall of Fame Tribute Series celebrates the accomplishments and careers of industry leaders.Hall of Fame Awards have been given to Elaine Gold, president of Elaine Gold Enterprises and founder of Collection XIIX; Mary Belle, president of licensing for the Jones Apparel Group
Jones Apparel Group
The Jones Group, Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is an American designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded clothing, shoes and accessories. Its headquarters are in New York City. The company also markets directly to consumers through their chain of specialty retail and value-based stores...
; and Marge Axelrad, senior vice president & editorial director of the Jobson Optical Group’s Vision Monday and 20/20 magazines.
Shopping Soiree
Each March the Accessories Council holds its annual cocktail reception and silent auction event, Shopping Soiree, during New York Accessory Market week. The silent auction is known for offering luxury accessories and beauty, home and lifestyle items.Career Day
In 2006, the Accessories Council organized its first Career Day initiative with leading fashion colleges the Fashion Institute of TechnologyFashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
and the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
LIM College is a private for-profit coeducational undergraduate and graduate educational institution focused on the business aspects of the fashion industry. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, and was founded in 1939 by Maxwell F...
, to offer member companies an early chance to hire talented entry-level employees and interns.
Participating companies have included Cole Haan
Cole Haan
Cole Haan is a fashion label that was founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in 1928.The name comes from founders Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan. Originally Cole Haan was a men's footwear label...
, Steve Madden
Steve Madden
Steve Madden is the founder and former CEO of Steve Madden Ltd., a footwear company.Born in Far Rockaway, Queens, Madden grew up in adjoining Lawrence in Nassau County, New York....
, Isabella Fiore, Kenneth Cole
Kenneth Cole Productions
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. is an American fashion house founded in 1982 by Kenneth Cole. He originally named the company Kenneth Cole Incorporated in September 1982 and planned to showcase his new line of shoes during market week at the Hilton New York Hotel...
and Jones Apparel Group
Jones Apparel Group
The Jones Group, Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is an American designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded clothing, shoes and accessories. Its headquarters are in New York City. The company also markets directly to consumers through their chain of specialty retail and value-based stores...
.
Sale Into Summer: The Ultimate Designer Accessories Sample Sale
The Accessories Council and hosts a charity consumer-shopping event called Sale Into Summer: The Ultimate Designer Accessories Sample Sale.The two-day event offers designer accessories from dozens of brands that are deeply discounted. A silent auction, featuring many items donated by celebrities, is also held.
Proceeds from Sale Into Summer benefit The Children’s Action Network, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of children, with a focus on adoption and foster care programs.
Round Table Discussions
The Accessories Council is committed to initiatives that growth the accessories industry and hosts accessories driven educational opportunities and round table discussions throughout the year. The Council has hosted discussions with Marshall Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst at The NPD Group, Francis Cole Jones, Media Trainer and authors of “How To Wow: Proven Strategies for Presenting your Ideas”, and trends reports with David Wolfe, Creative Director of the forecasting company, The Doneger Group.ACE Awards
The ACE Awards was created in 1996 to pay homage to individuals and groups who have helped raise awareness of the accessories industry. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those who have had a positive impact on accessory consumption during the prior year. Nominees are voted on by accessory-industry insiders, retailers, the Accessories Council Board of Directors and the fashion press. Winners are announced in advance of the annual event, which usually takes place at the beginning of November.Past winners[1]
This is a selected list of past winners. Winners in other categories, winners in past years, and nominees can be found at the Accessories Council Web site (http://www.accessoriescouncil.com).Year
2007
ACE Award
N/A
Designer of the Year
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
Retailer of the Year
Macy’s
Year
2006
ACE Award
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
Designer of the Year
Michael Kors
Michael Kors
Michael Kors is an American fashion designer. He is best known for designing classic American sportswear for women.-Personal life:...
Retailer of the Year
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
Year
2005
ACE Award
Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
& Ashley Olsen
Ashley Olsen
Ashley Fuller Olsen is an American actress, fashion designer, producer, and author. She co-founded luxury fashion brand The Row and the more affordable line Olsenboye with her twin sister Mary-Kate Olsen and started her own fashion company called Elizabeth and James...
Designer of the Year
Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta is one of the world's leading fashion designers. He was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1973.-Career:...
Retailer of the Year
NeimanMarcus.com
Year
2004
ACE Award
Kim Cattrall
Kim Cattrall
Kim Victoria Cattrall is an English actress. She is known for her role as Samantha Jones in the HBO comedy/romance series Sex and the City, and for her leading roles in the 1980s films Police Academy, Big Trouble in Little China, Mannequin, and Porky's...
Designer of the Year
Gordon Thompson III for Cole Haan
Cole Haan
Cole Haan is a fashion label that was founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in 1928.The name comes from founders Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan. Originally Cole Haan was a men's footwear label...
Retailer of the Year
Bloomingdale’s
Year
2003
ACE Award
The Women of Broadway
Designer of the Year
Reed Krakoff for Coach
Retailer of the Year
Henri Bendel
Henri Bendel
Henri Bendel is an American upscale women's specialty store based in New York City that sells fashion accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, gifts and gourmet foods...
Year
2002
ACE Award
Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Lynn Messing is an American actress, voice artist, and comedienne. She is perhaps best known for her role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace and as Molly Kagan in the mini-series The Starter Wife....
Designer of the Year
Tom Ford
Tom Ford
Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.-Early life :Tom Ford was born August 27, 1961 in...
for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Retailer of the Year
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
/Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
(tie)
Year
2001
ACE Award
Tina Knowles
Tina Knowles
Célestine Ann "Tina" Knowles is an American fashion designer known for her House of Deréon brand. She is perhaps best known as the mother of singers Beyoncé Knowles and Solange Knowles, and was the wife of Mathew Knowles, who managed Destiny's Child and then Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland until...
Year
2000
ACE Award
Patricia Field
Patricia Field
Patricia Field is an American costume designer, stylist and fashion designer.-Life and career:Field was born in 1941 in New York City to Greek and Armenian parents, who emigrated from Lesvos, Greece. She was raised in Astoria, Queens and has claimed credit for inventing the modern legging for...
& Rebecca Weinberg
Year
1999
ACE Award
Linda Dano
Linda Dano
Linda Dano is an American soap opera actress. A longtime performer in daytime dramas and a bestselling author and businesswoman, Dano was married for over 20 years to advertising executive Frank Attardi....
Year
1998
ACE Award
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
Year
1997
ACE Award
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...