NEW YORK—Yesterday, the Accessories Council announced its 6th annual Design Excellence Awards winners following a formal breakfast and awards ceremony at The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York. This year’s awards ceremony featured more categories than ever before, welcoming more independent designers to participate. Citizen received the 2024 Hall of Fame honor, which awards one single iconic product or brand that has stood the test of time as determined by the Accessories Council Board. Special awards were also presented to Bogg Bag, which received the Circana Top Item Award, and Blackburn, which received the FashionGo Buyer’s Choice Award, according to the announcement.

In the eyewear categories, Alain Mikli won the Eyewear Optical Independent Award; Stuart Weitzman (Safilo Group) won the Eyewear Optical Multi-Brand Award; Press won the Eyewear Sun Independent Award; and Longchamp (Marchon) won the Eyewear Sun Multi-Brand Award. In addition, L'Amy America's Two Blind Brothers won the Social Impact Award, and EssilorLuxottica’s Ray-Ban Meta won the Tech & Innovation Award.

The Accessories Council launched the Design Excellence Awards in 2019 to expand the recognition of outstanding work in the accessories category. The winners are representative of consumer tastes and trends that inform purchase power, the Council said. Winning products were voted on by the public from finalist pools selected by the Accessories Council board of directors. Finalists were chosen based on the criteria of 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 Council said.

Design Excellence Award-winning products are available for purchase in the U.S. via retail stores, e-commerce, TV retail, or direct marketing between September 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. The Accessories Council provides category finalists and winners with promotional tools for use at the wholesale and retail levels to market their products to consumers.

Sponsors of the 2024 Design Excellence Awards include Circana, Caleres, Marchon Eyewear, Fashionphile and FashionGo. Each of the winners received a trophy designed by Marchon Eyewear. 

This year’s winners and finalists were:

Brand Collaboration
WINNER: Jared X Lulu Frost - Jared X Charm’d by Lulu Frost
Finalists:
Carlos Falchi X Jumper Maybach
Echo
Lele Sadoughi X The Met
Tyler Ellis X Slim Aarons’ Estate
 
Eyewear Optical Independent
WINNER: Alain Mikli
Finalists:
Anwuli Eyewear
Big Horn
Paprdoll Eyewear
Pierre Eyewear
 
Eyewear Optical Multi-Brand
WINNER: Stuart Weitzman
Finalists:
Dolce & Gabbana
Pure
Swarovski
Tory Burch
 
Eyewear Sun Independent
WINNER: Press - Vogue 
Finalists:
BR.AND
Grace De Monaco
PARADIS WINSLET NEW YORK 
Selima Optique
 
Eyewear Sun Multi-Brand
WINNER: Longchamp
Finalists:
Brunello Cucinelli
Ferrari
Kate Spade
Prada
 
Fashion Jewelry Over $100
WINNER: Jane Win Jewelry - Hope JW Original Pendant Coin
Finalists:
Bittersweet Designs
Covet
Jennifer Fisher
Mignonne Gavigan
 
Fashion Jewelry Under $100
WINNER: Marlyn Schiff - The Alexandra Cuff
Finalists:
8 Other Reasons
Baublebar
Brosway Italia
Gold & Honey
Kurt Geiger London
 
Fine Jewelry Over $1,000
WINNER: Hearts On Fire - Barre Floating Diamond Choker
Finalists:
Heather B. Moore
Nanis Italian Jewels
Platinum Born
Shahla Karimi
 
Fine Jewelry Under $1,000
WINNER: Lagos - Lagos Caviar Skull Bracelet
Finalists:
Angara Inc.
KBH Jewels
Rachel Katz
Veniroe Beverly Hills
 
Footwear Over $250 *TIE*
WINNER: Chris Donovan - Corona 
WINNER: Daniela Uribe - Be Yourself Pump
Finalists:
4CCCCEES
ARCH NYC
Tina Maria Shoes
 
Footwear Under $250
WINNER: Vince - Oasis W
Finalists:
Cole Haan
Dr. Scholl's
Merrell
SBICCA
Shed Rain
 
General Accessories
WINNER: Binata Millinery - Kahon Pillbox
Finalists:
Frances Valentine
Mila + Mate
Nandanie
Wyeth
 
Handbags Over $1,000 *TIE*
WINNER: Hammitt - The Paul and Pocket Set
WINNER: Tyler Ellis - Winnie Handbag Mini in Pebbled Leather & Natural Wicker 
Finalists:
Leigh Ann Barnes
Lucchese
Piper & Skye 
 
Handbags Under $1,000
WINNER: Edie Parker - Burn Bag
Finalists:
Baggallini
Betsey Johnson
Lodis
Rosa K
Vera Bradley
 
Social Impact (Charity, Diversity, Inclusion)
WINNER: Two Blind Brothers - The Gwen
Finalists:
Freida Rothman
Jumper Maybach X Big Lovie
State Bags
Two Blind Brothers
 
Sustainability
WINNER: Margaret's The Couture Cleaners - Celine Handbag Restoration
Finalists:
Agmes
Costa
Deepa Gurnani
WoolTribe
 
Tech & Innovation
WINNER: Ray-Ban - Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, Skyler
Finalists:
Carrera
Julieta Barcelona
ONI
Zeiss