The Accessories Council has changed the scheduling of its flagship ACE Awards event. The annual gala will now take place in August, rather than its typical November.
On Aug. 2, accessory designers, executives and merchants will convene at Cipriani 42nd Street, during accessory market week. It is the awards’ 20th anniversary.
Accessories Council president Karen Giberson said of the decision to move the awards: “We decided to shift ACE to August market due to the Presidential election — we felt that the noise of the election would have been difficult. We thought about moving the event until after the election, but keeping in market week, but [our typical] venue was not available.”
Giberson acknowledged that August is the month in which a large portion of the industry takes vacation before the fall’s fashion show cycle. “We indeed have encountered a few issues with vacations, however, it is an accessory market week. It also coincides with footwear market week here in New York, so many people in the industry will be in town.”
The 2016 ACE Awards will be anointed to the following:
Media Award: Marie Claire magazine, accepted by Anne Fulenwider and Nancy Berger Cardone
Business Leadership Award: Rosenthal & Rosenthal Inc., accepted by Michael Stanley
Sustainability Award: Kering, accepted by Laurent Claquin
Influencer Award: Jennifer Fisher
Humanitarian Award: Vera Bradley, accepted by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard
Retailer of the Year: Bergdorf Goodman