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