Kering Eyewear's Roberto Vedovotto
accepts the ACE Business Visionary Award.
NEW YORK—The Accessories Council recognized Kering Eyewear and its founder, Roberto Vedovotto, president and CEO, with its Business Visionary Award at this week's 23rd annual ACE Awards dinner, noting the company's "disruptive approach to the luxury eyewear business." Kering Eyewear was created five years ago and is a division of the Kering Group. Gathering together the U.S. CEOs of the Kering Houses, the ACE Awards gala was an occasion to celebrate Kering Eyewear’s achievements as well as the Kering Group’s ability to “empower the imagination” of its brands supporting business innovation and creativity. The award was introduced by Petra Collins, artist, photographer, curator, movie director and friend of the Gucci House.

Other brands and companies with affiliations in the eyewear and sunwear categories were also recognized the event, held at Cipriani-42nd Street here. They included Columbia Sportswear, which offers eyewear via Marchon, which was honored with the Legacy Award, Sperry, with eyewear from L'Amy America, which received the Sustainability Award, and Steve Madden, who does eyewear via ClearVision, was recognized with the Visionary Award.



The ACE Awards dinner takes over
Cipriani-42nd Street.		Actress Debi Mazar and other actors from
"Younger" honored costume designer
Jacqueline Demeterio.


 ACE icon Ciara with Accessories Council's Karen Giberson, president and CEO, and Frank Zambrelli, chairman of the board.
Additional 2019 ACE honorees included 10 Corso Como, with the Retail Innovation Award, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, recognized with the Philanthropy Award, Ciara as Style Icon, Jacqueline Demeterio, costume designer for many projects including the show "Younger" with the Style Ambassador Award, Rachel Ray, for Business Launch, Rent the Runway for Retail Innovator, Todd Snyder for Designer of the Year/Collaboration Award and Saks Fifth Avenue for Retailer of the Year. The Council presented its 2019 President's Award to RJ Graziano and Steven Roberts.

The Accessories Council celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year and its ACE awards honor individuals and companies who have furthered the awareness and use of accessories. The ACE Awards were created in 1997 to pay homage to those that have made great strides in raising the awareness of the accessories industry. Over the past 23 years, the Accessories Council has honored and recognized global brands and pioneers, positioning them in the forefront of the fashion industry. The ACE Awards are presented to designers, brands, retailers, celebrities and media who have helped to enhance sales and promote accessories.

Sponsors of this year's ACE event included Coterie, Marchon, Sperry, Caleres, Collection 18, Judith Lieber, LIM College, ROSS, Signal brands, Swarovski and TJX.