WGSN Global Fashion Award Winners announced
WGSN, the global authority on style and design trends, hosted the second annual Global Fashion Awards in New York City, the 20th October 2011. The Awards were created in 2010 to recognize and reward innovative international talent and achievement within the fashion industry. The Global Fashion Awards, with a panel of judges and industry tastemakers, nominated a carefully selected shortlist of brands and designers for sixteen categories in June, 2011.
The categories included awards such as Breakthrough Brand or Retailer, Breakthrough Designer, Outstanding Customer Experience and Outstanding New Store. Special guest presenters announced the winning nominee in each category at a celebratory champagne reception and gala dinner at Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.
“The Global Fashion Awards is a truly global event. Attracting entries from countries such as the USA, the UK, Israel, China, Norway, Australia, Japan, China, India, France, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Hong Kong, this is the only place you will find future stars being heralded alongside some of fashion’s best-known names. With an impressive judging panel of industry greats, fashion experts and icons, this is the only award that celebrates innovation and excellence on a unique peer-to-peer platform.” Lauretta Roberts, WGSN Global Fashion Awards Director.
SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, as a committed supporter of emerging talent and creativity, were the partner of the evening and supplied the beautifully crafted Global Fashion Awards’ trophies for the prestigious 2011 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS ‘Winner of Winners’ Award and a special SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Student Award. The winners were chosen by a specially selected grand jury the morning of the ceremony at a brunch hosted by WGSN at Mondrian SoHo.
“Swarovski has always recognized excellence in fashion and design right from the time our company was founded in 1895. It is for this reason that we feel we are natural supporting partners for the 2011 WGSN Global Fashion Awards. While we applaud the brilliant standard of all the winners, we are particularly pleased to be able to recognize the ‘Winner of Winners” for going for, and achieving, that something truly special. We are also delighted to be able to continue to support and nurture outstanding emerging talent,” said Nadja Swarovski, Member of Executive Board, Swarovski Crystal Business.
Gotham hall was decorated with bespoke installations made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, including the iconic Swarovski Crystal Palace Glitter Box table lanterns and floor lamps. Swarovski Crystal Stardust added sparkle to table decorations alongside fabulous Swarovski Crystal Strands onstage.
The Global Fashion Awards judges this year were; Chee Au, Chief Creative Officer of Shanghai Tang; June Haynes, Senior Vice President of Retail for Valentino USA; Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz, Creative Directors, Bally; Dolly Jones, Editor or VOGUE.COM UK; Fern Mallis, Founder of New York Fashion Week; and Simon Kneen, Creative Director and Executive Vice President of Design at Banana Republic and Nadja Swarovski, Vice President of International Communications & Creative Director, Swarovski.
The special guest presenters included Whitney Port, Brad Goreski, Coco Rocha, Mary Alice Stephenson, Ariana Rockefeller, Fern Mallis and Eugenia Silva alongside Nadja Swarovski, Anna Sui, Stephanie Winston Wilkoff and host Robert Verdi. Liam Gallagher, Jessica White, Ann Dexter Jones and Charlotte Ronson were just some of the evening’s attendees. Award winners included:
Most Influential Designer, Womenswear: Erdem
Breakthrough Brand or Retailer: Pretty Green
Best Etailer: Net-a-Porter
Breakthrough Designer: Michael Cinco
Most Influential Designer, Footwear and/or Accessories: Acne
For a full list of The Global Fashion Awards categories, nominees, award winners and presenters, visit globalfashionawards.com.