\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tFern Mallis, Mindy Grossman, Alyce Panico and Maryanne Grisz.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatrick McMullan via Getty Image<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tDesigner Jeffrey Banks, who hired Grossman as a junior salesperson when she was just 21 years old, presented her with the award. \u201cSince I first met this remarkable woman, I have always known that she would be a raging success in whatever she decided to do,\u201d Banks said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m delighted to say, I was right.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tGrossman, who received the award in recognition of her leadership and lasting influence on the retail and fashion industries, recalled how some of the legends that she worked for in her career, including Banks, Willi Smith, Tommy Hilfiger, Phil Knight and Oprah Winfrey, all taught her that leadership isn\u2019t about power, it\u2019s about purpose and the impact that you have on others.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThese lessons emboldened me to take risks, to always stand up for my values, to prioritize a culture of belonging and to embrace transformation,\u201d Grossman said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve also learned that we are never truly done. Every chapter, no matter how successful, is just the beginning of what\u2019s next. So, to the rising stars, congratulations. Your voice, your perspective and your courage to challenge what\u2019s next is exactly what this industry needs.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tArtist and designer Ruben Toledo, the husband of the late Isabel Toledo, paid tribute to his wife\u2019s memory in an inspired and heartfelt address that reflected on creativity, legacy and the importance of community in supporting the next generation of talent.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m really here because of my wife, who I lost, unfortunately, a few years ago,\u201d Toledo said lovingly. \u201cIt\u2019s actually more than a few years ago, but I\u2019m trying to control time. I don\u2019t want to let go. And unfortunately, we artists and creators have this ability where we think we can control everything, but we can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tRuben Toledo<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatrick McMullan via Getty Image<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tToledo went on to give everyone insight into life lessons he\u2019s absorbed along the way. \u201cTake a good look around the room,\u201d he told all of the rising stars. \u201cTake a good look around the people at your table. These are the folks you\u2019re going to be seeing coming and going for the next two or three decades. So, get to know them now and start building a community. That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAs for the rising stars, awards were presented across categories spanning apparel, accessories, beauty, jewelry and sustainability. Presented in partnership with Simon G. Jewelry, the jewelry categories highlighted emerging voices in fine and fashion jewelry design.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tCoco Rocha <\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatrick McMullan via Getty Image<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tIn the fashion jewelry category, Ashley Moubayed of Don\u2019t Let Disco wasn\u2019t prepared to win. \u201cI\u2019ve been in rooms like this before,\u201d Moubayed said to the audience. \u201cI typically would prepare remarks just in case if I won, but I never did. So I wasn\u2019t going to write anything for this event, but I read my horoscope the other day that said a \u2018surprise win\u2019 was coming to me, so I thought I\u2019d come prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tJamie Books of Mason and Books was just as surprised for her win in the fine jewelry category. Schupbach took the stage to present the sustainability award to FIT alum Chuks Collins, while designer Nicole Miller presented the accessories award to Erin Saluti of handbag brand Eittem and Sarah Fiszel and Maxwell Federbush of footwear label Brave Pudding.<\/p>\n \n\tMAC Cosmetics\u2019 Romero Jennings presented the beauty award to Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks of Ashunta, who made several clever jokes including a message to all the first-time nominees in the crowd. \u201cThis is my second time being nominated for this award,\u201d she quipped. \u201cSo, don\u2019t give up. Second time\u2019s the charm, just like my marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tPaige DeSorbo <\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatrick McMullan via Getty Image<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tIn eveningwear, designer Mohapatra presented the award to Jeanette Limas of Jeanette Limas Studio, who reflected on her admiration of Mallis. \u201cFern, you make me so nervous,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cBack when I was studying in the Dominican Republic, we spent two days learning all about you in my class. I always wondered what it would be like to meet you but didn\u2019t think that would happen. Now, every time I see you, I get nervous\u2026so now you know why.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tFinally, designer Frederick Anderson presented the last awards of the afternoon for fashion apparel: ready-to-wear, but not before calling out Saks and Neiman Marcus. \u201cWhen Saks and Neiman\u2019s fails, we all need to be ready for what\u2019s next,\u201d he declared to the audience. \u201cSometimes things just need to be said.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe category winners included Wangda Chen of W\u00e0ngda for menswear and Aiste Hong for womenswear.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tFrederick Anderson <\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatrick McMullan via Getty Image<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tAdditional special honors included the Hilldun Business Innovation Award, presented to Justin Abrams by Joshua Kapelman; the inaugural Media Impact Award presented to Bravo\u2019s \u201cSummer House\u201d alum Paige DeSorbo by Sally Holmes, editor in chief of InStyle Magazine; and the Macy\u2019s Future Fashion Award presented to Michaela Hahn by previous honoree and current Macy\u2019s assistant buyer, Fatmata Camara.<\/p>\n \n\tThe FGI Rising Star Awards continue to serve as a platform for designers and entrepreneurs shaping the future of the industry. Past honorees include Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Brandon Maxwell, Phillip Lim and the founders of Rent the Runway.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAs we mark 30 years of the Rising Star Awards, what stands out is not only the talent we celebrate, but the enduring role of community in shaping the future of our industry,\u201d FGI president and chief executive officer Maryanne Grisz said. \u201cThis year\u2019s honorees reflect a new generation of leaders whose creativity and vision are already influencing the global fashion landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Spirits were high on Thursday afternoon for the milestone 30th anniversary of Fashion Group International\u2019s Rising Star Awards. Presenters like designer Nicole Miller, Bibhu Mohapatra and Fashion Institute of Technology president Jason Schupbach all offered an audience full of up-and-comers encouragement and advice at the annual luncheon, held at 583 Park Avenue. Also in attendance were Fern Mallis, Ken Downing, Marylou Luther, Bach Mai, Carlos Campos, Kate Barton and other designers and fashion executives. Supermodel Coco Rocha kicked off the celebrations acknowledging to the room that no one got to where they are in their careers without a little help. \u201cWe all rose because someone believed in us, guided us, and gave us a chance,\u201d Rocha said. \u201cThe FGI Rising Star Awards recognize those rising stars who are doing just that, bringing fresh ideas, new perspectives, and an undeniable passion to everything they create.\u201d Before receiving the 2026 Lifetime Achievement award, Mindy Grossman, partner and vice chair of Consello and longtime industry veteran, told WWD that the accolade was a \u201ctrue honor.\u201d \u201cThis really means a lot to me,\u201d Grossman said. \u201cI truly believe that the reason I\u2019ve been successful is that I\u2019ve focused my career on making other people successful. Be it developing talent, developing relationships, being an advocate for people, or giving them opportunities before sometimes even they think they\u2019re ready. So, to be recognized, not just for the impact of what I may have done in business, but also for what I\u2019ve really tried to do for the next generation, that\u2019s what FGI is about, and it\u2019s an honor to be recognized.\u201d Fern Mallis, Mindy Grossman, Alyce Panico and Maryanne Grisz. Patrick McMullan via Getty Image Designer Jeffrey Banks, who hired Grossman as a junior salesperson when she was just 21 years old, presented her with the award. \u201cSince I first met this remarkable woman, I have always known that she would be a raging success in whatever she decided to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14503"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14503\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"NEW](\"https:\/\/wwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2271693753.jpg?w=300\")
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