Latest News Eyewear, Sunwear to be Recognized for Design Excellence Awards in New Accessories Council Initiative By Staff Thursday, March 7, 2019 12:24 AM NEW YORK—At a special celebration held here last night to mark the Accessories Council's 25th anniversary, executives announced a new program, the Design Excellence Awards, which will kick off this year, culminating in 15 awards within categories including Eyewear, Handbags, Personal Accessories, Jewelry, Watches, Footwear and Tech and Innovation. Additionally, one iconic product that has stood the test of time will be recognized with the Hall of Fame Award and the NPD Award, a statistically derived honor, will be awarded based on sales growth. With a history of honoring individuals and companies, the Council is now excited to begin recognizing outstanding products. Entries are now open through June 21, at midnight, available at accessoriescouncil.org.In an effort to highlight products ahead of or during their launch phase, products eligible for consideration will need to be available to purchase in the U.S. via retail stores, e-commerce, TV retail or direct marketing through Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019.The Accessories Council board of directors and the Accessories Innovation Committee will select four to five finalists per category 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. “It’s an important time to give our industry a marquee to tag and identify excellent products,” said Karen Giberson, president of Accessories Council. “Our hope is that we will help stimulate sales and awareness at the wholesale and retail level.” Finalists will be announced on Aug. 5, receiving a certificate and “Accessories Council Design Award Finalist” logo. The winners, selected by judges, will be presented with a trophy, certificate and “Accessories Council Design Award Winner” logo at a luncheon on Sept. 4, in New York City. Marchon Eyewear has designed the trophy and all of the logos. “The right product at the right quality, the right price, and at the right time can make or break companies in our industry,” said Thomas Burkhardt, SVP of global brands, marketing & design at Marchon Eyewear, Inc., and the chairman of the Accessories Council Design Excellence Committee. “The Accessory Council Design Excellence Awards will provide the platform to celebrate the products that got this equation right and raised the bar for everyone else.” More information as well as exact categories and rules for submission are posted on the Accessories Council's site. The Accessories Council, a not-for-profit international trade association established in 1994. Its mission is 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 United States 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.