Business Description

This Fashion Awards Event was created to discover, celebrate, and elevate emerging designers worldwide. Founded by a talent scout, industry expert, author, and professor with over 15 years of experience, it has grown into the world's most prestigious global handbag designer search.
Since 2007, applications have increased 400%, with over 25,000 global applicants to date and 1,500+ entries in recent cycles. The organization maintains the largest community of independent handbag designers — a database of 7,500+ designers spanning 50 countries, including Brazil, Japan, the UK, Ireland, Lebanon, Belgium, and Colombia.
The event achieved mainstream cultural reach through a fashion media partnership in which the Audience Fan Favorite category generated 500,000 unique votes annually for nine consecutive years. It has earned coverage in The New York Times, WWD, Harper's Bazaar, and Forbes, and appeared on The Today Show.
High-profile collaborations with Kate Spade, Swarovski, Timberland, Guess, Nine West, Kipling, and Nasty Gal have helped place winning designers in Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, and QVC. More than 25 universities — including SCAD, FIT, Parsons, and The London College of Fashion — require students to apply.
Alumni have gone on to found fashion brands, earn CFDA nominations, and secure licensing deals.