Accessories Council Names 2025 Excellence Awards Winners
The Accessories Council announced the winners of its seventh annual Design Excellence Awards on Monday, with a ceremony held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City for the second consecutive year.
Launched in 2019, the Design Excellence Awards is the Accessories Council‘s way to expand the recognition of outstanding products, awarding brands across categories from handbags to eyewear, optical and sun, footwear, jewelry, fashion and fine, tech and innovation and more.
The 2025 edition of the awards featured Swarovski as the recipient of the ceremony’s most prestigious honor: the Hall of Fame Founders Award. Determined by the Accessories Council Board, the award recognizes one product or brand that has stood the test of time.
More special honors included the Circana Growth Driver Award for Baggallini for the Soho Backpack; the IFF Award/Furmark presented to Saga Fur Creative Hub Mittens, and the IFF Award/First Nations, presented to Atikus Coyote Trimmed Mittens.
Caleres, Circana, Fashionphile, Furmark, Philmar and Marchon Eyewear served as sponsors for the event, with each winner receiving a trophy designed by Marchon Eyewear.
Below are the Accessories Council’s 2025 Design Excellence Awards winners:
Handbags (More Than $1,000 Retail)
Winner (Tie): Siena Wolf and Rafe New York
Free Maison
Sydnie Banks
Tyler Ellis
Handbags (Less Than $1,000 Retail)
Winner: 8 Other Reasons
Brahmin
Hammitt
Mustkies
Patricia Nash Designs
Eyewear, Optical (Independent)
Winner: MODO Eyewear
Ollu
Raen
Silhouette
Tony Brown Design
Eyewear, Optical (Multibrand)
Winner: State Optical Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Oakley
Pure
Tura
Eyewear, Sun (Independent)
Winner: Selima x Nico
Big Horn
Kazoku Lunettes
Rosa Rims
Soul-A
Eyewear, Sun (Multibrand)
Winner: Barton Perreira
Christian Louboutin Eyewear
Kate Spade New York
Miu Miu
Vera Wang Eyewear
Footwear (More Than $250)
Winner: Veronica Beard
Brave Pudding
Chris Donovan Footwear
Rex Shoes
Sam Edelman
Footwear (Less Than $250)
Winner: Cole Haan
Kenneth Cole
Merrell
Soléi Sea
Vince
Jewelry, Fashion (More Than $100)
Winner (Tie): Donna Karan New York Jewelry and Freida Rothman
Capucine De Wulf
Covet
Sophie Blake NY
Jewelry, Fashion (Less Than $100)
Winner: Melinda Maria
Anne Klein x Anjelica Roselyn
Marlyn Schiff
Seville Michelle Jewelry Design Inc.
Wild Made
Jewelry, Fine (More Than $1,000)
Winner: Jane Win Jewelry
Cadar
Hearts on Fire
Lagos
Le Vian
Nanis
Jewelry, Fine (Less Than $1,000)
Winner: Cynthia Ryan
Alliyette
AMMA
Renn New York
Roseate
General Accessories (Soft accessories, scarves, gloves, belts, hats, umbrellas)
Winner: Vera Bradley Designs Inc.
Hymn
Smart Carry
Storto
Two Blind Brothers
Tech and Innovation (Smart and other tech accessories, including luxury and fashion watches)
Winner: Hulken
Canada Goose
Moncler Lunettes
PaprDoll Eyewear
Stayson Eyewear
Social Impact (Charity, diversity, inclusion)
Winner: Able x Leigh Ann Barnes
Anwuli x Un-ti-tled
ElyseRyan Jewelry
Jenny Lynn Eyewear
Lafonn
Sustainability
Winner: Mela
Goldpoint Jewelry
Izipizi
Meertens Luxury
Via Gallo (formerly Jeane and Jax)
Brand Collaboration
Winner: Cove Fine Jewelry
Desert Bloom
Lele Sadoughi x The British Library
Oliver Peoples Roger Federer
Stuart Weitzman
Millinery and Hair Accessories
Winner: Deepa Gurnani
Binata Millinery
Clementine Sleepwear
Khia Tullaé
Vivian Blooms Millinery
