NEW YORK—Product design entries are now being accepted for the 3rd Annual Design Excellence Awards of the Accessories Council and optical frame and sunwear companies are encouraged to enter the program which will bestow honors for designs in 14 unique fashion accessories categories including footwear, handbags, jewelry, personal accessories and others. Noted Karen Giberson, president, Accessories Council, "We are very proud of the way this awards program has developed. We are seeing the finalists and winners use their recognition at the wholesale and retail level. We have seen the mention in companies annual reports, press statements and seen our trophies at trade shows."

She added, "We continue to have categories for optical and sun, but also for 'PPE,' 'Tech & Innovation' and 'Sustainability and Social Impact', which also work for eyewear."

Designs can be submitted from April 1 to July 16. Finalists will be announced Aug. 2 and the winners announced Sept. 8. Accessories Council members and non-member companies can enter. Questions about submissions and parameters for products submitted to the Design Excellence Awards can be directed to leena@accessoriescouncil.org.

To enter the 2021 Design Excellence Awards, companies should use this link.

At this time, it's anticipated that the finalists' announcement will be virtual in August. Depending on the COVID situation and the feasibility of an in-person event, the council will determine if the Awards will be presented live in September. Marchon Eyewear designed the trophy and all of the logos.

The Accessories Council is a not-for-profit international trade association established in 1994 with a mission to stimulate consumer awareness and demand for fashion accessory products. The Accessories Council serves the industry globally, which generates over $54 billion dollars annually in the U.S. alone.

Membership is represented internationally by the world’s leading brand names, designers, publications, retailers and associated providers for the accessories, eyewear and footwear industries.