Fashion Group International hosted an insiders-only Rising Star Awards pre-event party on Tuesday, April 4, offering the first chance for awards finalists, presenters, and FGI staff and friends to gather ahead of the 27th annual awards ceremony. FGI cocktail party, held at men’s made-to-measure lounge Sartoria Studio, comes on the heels of the non-profit’s official announcement of 2023 FGI Rising Star Awards presenters, including keynote speaker Patricia Field, and other notables including Nigel Barker, LaQuan Smith, Stefano Tonchi, and more. The FGI Rising Star Awards will take place at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on May 8, 2023.
Maryanne Grisz, Bill McCuddy, Paolo Torello-Viera, Jack Menashe, Stevie Van Zandt, James D’Adamo photo by Deonté Lee/BFA.com
Cocktail party attendees included countless FGI Rising Star Awards finalists (see the full list below), and FGI President and CEO Maryanne Grisz, FGI board members James D’Adamo, and Nicole Fischelis, and other well-heeled attendees including Rebecca Moses, Nick Graham, Musa Jackson, Bill McCuddy, Melissa Vale, Kate Smolianinova, Eileen Rhein, Karina Bik, Olga Ferrara, and Katya Tolstova, among others.
Melissa Vale, Eileen Rhein, Olga Ferrara, Terry Singh photo by Deonté Lee/BFA.com
FGI cocktail party was a wonderful gathering ahead of the annual awards event, now in its 27th year, is a vital extension of FGI’s ongoing mission to connect and support the global fashion diaspora with vital career resources and connections for long term success. In many cases, the competition offers first time brand exposure for finalists. To be nominated, participants must not have been in business longer than six years. Past Rising Star Awards winners have gone on to great acclaim and success, including Jason Wu, Tory Burch, Joseph Altuzarra, Phillip Lim, Brandon Maxwell, Thom Brown, Bond No. 9, Warby Parker, Dylan Lauren of Dylan’s Candy Bar, and Jennifer Fleiss and Jennifer Hyman of Rent the Runway, to name a few.
The annual awards ceremony has also revamped its awards categories for the 2023 edition with a new slate of gender-inclusive categories recognizing finalists in fashion, accessories, fine jewelry, beauty, sustainability, retail, collaborations, and related categories.
See the full list of presenters and finalists below:
Keynote Speaker: Patricia Field, Costume Designer, Entrepreneur, ARTFashion Founder
Eveningwear
Presenter: Stefano Tonchi, Palmer
Finalists:
Andrew Kwon, Andrew Kwon
Bach Mai, Bach Mai
Kate Barton, Kate Barton
Terry Singh, Terry Singh
Manuel Tiscareño, Tiscareno
Ready-to-Wear
Presenter: LaQuan Smith, LaQuan Smith
Finalists:
Autumn Adeigbo, Autumn Adeigbo
Stephen Mikhail, Atelier Cillian
Kelsey and Cassidy Tucker, Deviate
Marrisa Wilson, Marrisa Wilson New York
Alex and Michael Toccin, Toccin
Active/Casualwear
Presenter: Constance White, Journalist
Finalists:
Marusya Tamboura and Burkindy, Jahnkoy
Nicholas Raefski, Nicholas Raefski
Joseph DeAcetis, Potro
Teddy von Ranson, Teddy von Ranson
Beauty Entrepreneur
Presenter: Jessica Matlin, Moda Operandi, “Fat Mascara” podcast
Finalists:
Stephanie Miklosvary, Lucky Chick
Michael and Diana Wilson, Saints & Sinners Haircare
Raquel Riley Thomas, Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty
Accessories – Hard and Soft Goods Categories
Presenter: Edmundo Castillo, Stuart Weitzman
Finalists:
Celia Torvisco, Celia Torvisco
Chris Donovan, Chris Donovan Footwear
Jennifer Rose Smail, Cuddigan Leather
Megan Key Campos & Nick Lucio, Oncept
Rowell Concepcion, Binata Millinery
Metri Holliday, Metri Holliday LLC
Lei Li / Yiren Zhou, Monsecret New York
Fine Jewelry
Presenter: Paul Morelli, Paul Morelli
Finalists:
Hakan Orrling, Arild Links
Burkindy, Burkindy
Ritika Ravi, Ivar Jewelry
Maika Rivera Tanpoco and Melizza Jaune Tanpoco, Jaune Pearls
Collaborations
Presenter: Nigel Barker, Photographer, Film Maker, Author, Creative Director
Finalists:
Collab Name: Jared Jewelers x NBA Cleveland Cavaliers “Junkyard Dog Chain”
Dan Hines, Marketing Director, Jared
Collab Name: Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle
Scott Schoessel, VP, Global Marketing – Wolverine, Bates & Hytest, Wolverine Worldwide
Collab Name: AMER_ICAN and various designers
Vesna Cremona, Founder, AMER_ICAN
FGI Special Awards for 2023
The Hilldun Business Innovation Award
Presenter: Gary Wassner, Hilldun Corporation
Recognizing Marcelo Guimarães and Jordana Guimarães, Fashinnovation
FGI Rising Star Entrepreneur of the Year
Presenter: Kai Milla, Global Green
Recognizing Kimberly Carney, The Wires
Sustainability
Presenter: Mickey Boardman, Paper Magazine
Awardee to be announced
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