Nov. 5, 2021 — The Accessories Council hosted its 25^th annual ACE Awards on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Cipriani 42^nd Street in New York City.
 
The ACE Awards celebration honors individuals and companies who have furthered the awareness and use of accessories. Created in 1997, the awards continue to celebrate the accessories industry and aim to bring awareness to the categories prior to important shopping periods.
 
Eyecare Business editor-in-chief Erinn Morgan attended the awards with Marchon Eyewear and managing editor Kerri Ann Raimo attended with Safilo Group. For an insider’s look at the event, head to EB’s Facebook livestreams.
 

Photo: Ilya Savenok, Getty Images

To honor the 25^th anniversary and the generosity and hard work of the honorees during Covid-19, this year’s awardees were recognized as “heroes.” The Accessories Council shares that this year’s honorees supported Covid relief, sustainability, ongoing charitable work, and/or inclusivity throughout the past year. Honorees included Iris Apfel, “Super Hero” recipient (pictured above); Wes Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera; Christian Siriano; LaQuan Smith; Crocs; Stephanie Roberson, chief merchandising officer of Shopbop; Caleres/Allen Edmonds; Qurate Retail Group; and Karyn Schoenbart, chief executive office of The NPD Group.
 
Notably, the optical industry received a collective award.
 
In addition, Accessories Council members had the opportunity to vote for brands to receive an ACE Award. Special recognition went to Aether Diamonds, Marlyn Schiff, and Blessings in a Backpack.
 
On behalf of Qurate Retail Group, Accessories Council chair Frank Zambrelli presented a $25,000 check to the Blessings in a Backpack organization, a non-profit that feeds school children in the U.S. who currently are fed during the week on the federally funded Free and Reduced Meal Program and at risk of going hungry on the weekends. 
 

Photo: Ilya Savenok, Getty Images

ACE presenters included Ciara, Whoopi Goldberg (pictured above), Sabrina Carpenter, Jason Rembert, Armando Cabral, and Katie Sturino. Notable guests such as Nina Agdal, Candice Huffine, Lauren Chan, Fern Mallis, Jill Zarin, and Anjelica Fellini attended the awards. 
 
To further highlight the special event, the Accessories Council launched a special print issue of its AC Magazine. The issue features the winners, all nominee finalists, past ACE winners, and includes guest writers such as Lynn Yaeger, Roxanne Robinson, and Kathleen Beckett.
 
This year’s event sponsors included Caleres, Coach, Informa Markets Fashion, Judith Leiber, Luxottica, Marchon, Safilo Group, Signal Brands, and Vera Bradley. 
 
Stay tuned for additional photos from the event in the November/December issue of EB.