New York (May 10, 2022) – A well-heeled crowd turned out for the 26th annual Fashion Group International (FGI) Rising Star Awards on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. The Lighthouse at Pier Sixty-One on the Hudson served as a new venue for the red carpet event, where FGI members and executives were joined by some of the biggest names in the New York fashion world who gathered to celebrate fashion’s stand-out new design stars in womenswear, menswear, all gender accessories, fine jewelry, beauty, and sustainability.
FGI board members, Rising Star nominees, and friends were joined by notable figures of New York society and the fashion scene, including Vera Wang, Fern Mallis, Robert Verdi, actress Nazanin Boniadi, and Lynn Yaeger, as well as Jean Shafiroff, Gillian Hearst, Robert Verdi, Linda Fargo, Constance White, Lara Eurdeolian of Pretty Connected, Teri Agins, Anna Rothschild, Marcus Teo, Patty Raynes, Sarah Chiwaya of Curvily, and Greivy.
Iconic artist, author, and designer Rebecca Moses offered keynote remarks, while a high-profile slate of presenters offered inspiring words and award presentations to special award winners and FGI Rising Stars in a number of categories:
- Actress Lisa Arrindell and Tracy Reese co-presented the FGI President’s Award for Excellence to Fashion Designer Byron Lars for his company In Ernest
- Gary Wassner presented the Hilldun Business Innovation Award to Savitude CEO Karen Williams
- Designer Jason Wu presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Cole Wassner, CEO of Wassner Management Group
- Diesel Sustainability Ambassador Andrea Rosso presented the Diesel Sustainability Award to Mimi Prober
- ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia presented the FGI Rising Star Award in Womenswear to Frederick Anderson
- American fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond presented the FGI Rising Star Award in Menswear to Christian Juul Nielsen for AKNVAS
- Graff President and CEO North America Marc Hruschka presented the FGI Rising Star Award for Fine Jewelry to Julie Lamb
- Stylist and Creative Director Freddie Leiba presented the FGI Rising Star Award for Accessories to Betzabe Gonzalez for Mia Becar
- Publicist, author, and TV personality Kelly Cutrone presented the FGI Rising Star Award for All Gender to Tristan Detwiler for Stan
- In a surprise tie, Chief Brand Officer Hearst Luxury Collections E-Commerce Ken Downing presented the FGI Rising Star Award for New Retail to both Nyakio Grieco for Thirteen Lune and Nancy Volpe Beringer for The Vault by Volpe Beringer
- Beauty entrepreneur and celebrity makeup artist Keita Moore presented the FGI Rising Star Award in Beauty to Mantas Butkus in absentia
Maryanne Grisz, FGI President and CEO: “I was incredibly inspired by the profound words of our keynote speaker Rebecca Moses and our presenters: messages of support and wise insight into the path of a creative. All of the finalists and winners exemplified hope and the future of our industry.”
The annual design competition event, now in its 26th year, is an extension of FGI’s ongoing mission to connect and support the fashion diaspora with vital career resources and connections for long-term success. In many cases, the competition offers first-time brand exposure to tastemakers and industry leaders, as finalists have been in business not more 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.
This year’s sponsors include Hearst Magazines, Hilldun Corporation, Diesel, and Pullquest.
2022 FGI Rising Star Awards Finalists
MENSWEAR
Brand: AKNVAS; Finalist: Christian Juul Nielsen
Brand: Christopher Lowman; Finalist: Christopher Lowman
Brand: Kenneth Nicholson; Finalist: Kenneth Nicholson
Brand: TERRY SINGH NYC; Finalist: Terry Singh
WOMENSWEAR
Brand: Amir Taghi; Finalist: Amir Taghi
Brand: Frederick Anderson; Finalist: Frederick Anderson
Brand: Kelsey Randall; Finalist: Kelsey Randall
Brand: JUNNY; Finalist Junny Ann Hibbert
Brand: Mimi Prober; Finalist: Mimi Prober
ALL GENDER
Brand: Deviate; Finalist: Kelsey & Cassidy Tucker
Brand: FRIED RICE; Finalist: Maya Wang
Brand: Stan; Finalist: Tristan Detwiler
Brand: William Frederick; Finalist: William McNicol
BEAUTY
Brand: Curl Daddy; Finalist: Edwin Borquez Pierrot
Brand: Em & El Organics; Finalist: Emily Trower-Young
Brand: GlossWire App; Finalist: Kimberly Carney
Brand: Kindra; Finalist: Catherine Balsam-Schwaber
Brand: MOÉRIE; Finalist: Mantas Butkus
Brand: Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty; Finalist: Raquel Riley Thomas
Brand: Sparti Scents; Finalists: Abby Wallach and Caroline Fabrigas
ACCESSORIES
Brand: BYBBA; Finalist: Pam Seidman
Brand: Bentz; Finalists: Melissa & Kim Bentz
Brand: Cuddigan Leather; Finalist: Jennifer Rose Smail
Brand: Mia Becar; Finalist: Betzabe Gonzalez
Brand: Salone Monet; Finalist: Salone Monet
NEW RETAIL
Brand: ScentFluence; Finalist: Caroline Fabrigas
Brand: The Vault by Volpe Beringer; Finalist: Nancy Volpe Beringer
Brand: thirteen lune; Finalist: Nyakio Grieco
FINE JEWELRY
Brand: Julie Lamb NY; Finalist: Julie Lamb
Brand: Mary Margrill; Finalist: Mary Margrill
Brand: Sara Shala Designs; Finalist: Sara Shala
ABOUT FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Fashion Group International is a professional membership organization of industry leaders in 26 global regions in the fashion, beauty, lifestyle and retail sectors. FGI’s Mission is to provide our member network with a forum for discussion and connection across all sectors through programming focused on the industry’s most current and crucial topics, recognition of emerging talent and trends at the zeitgeist of innovation; and to open access to industry leaders by offering a platform of resources for business development and career advancement at all levels.
FGI believes that providing a forum for professional development and career advancement unleashes creativity, innovation and advances the business of fashion.
