NEW YORK—The Accessories Council has announced the finalists for their 4th annual Design Excellence Awards. Eyewear, both optical and sunwear, are among the categories being recognized along with jewelry, handbags, soft accessories, footwear, technology innovations, social impact products and sustainable products. Anyone can vote for their choices here by October 30, 2022. Building on its history of honoring individuals and companies, the Accessories Council launched the Design Excellence Awards in 2019 to expand the recognition of outstanding products. All finalist products selected are available for purchase in the U.S. via retail stores, e-commerce, TV retail, or direct marketing between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.

Finalists were selected by the Accessories Council board of directors based on the criteria of excellence in design, unique appearance and/or function, consumer needs addressed by product, appropriate aesthetics, innovative materials or technology, market positioning and competitive performance, social images, emotional appeal, and sustainability. This year’s finalists include a diverse mix of price points and companies both large and small.

The Eyewear Sun and Optical, Tech & Innovation and Sustainable finalists, by category, are as follows:

Eyewear Sun:
  • Finalist 1: American Optical
  • Finalist 2: Big Horn
  • Finalist 3: Carrera
  • Finalist 4: Lanvin
  • Finalist 5: Oakley
Eyewear Optical:
  • Finalist 1: Calvin Klein
  • Finalist 2: Carolina Herrera
  • Finalist 3: Glemaud x Tura
  • Finalist 4: Marc Jacobs
  • Finalist 5: Nicole Miller
Tech & Innovation:
  • Finalist 1: Chalonne
  • Finalist 2: Eyes of Fashion NYFT
  • Finalist 3: Hilos
  • Finalist 4: Kowy
  • Finalist 5: Monica Rich Kosann
Sustainability:
  • Finalist 1: Amatostyle
  • Finalist 2: Botaniq Eyewear
  • Finalist 3: KBH Jewels
  • Finalist 4: Merrell
  • Finalist 5: Salvage Sacs
Winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 9. Each finalist and winner also receives an “AC Seal” that can be used on products for the life of the item such as trade shows, annual reports, social media, and more. Finalists will be featured in the Fall issue of AC Magazine, which will publish the first week of October. Winners will be featured in the Winter issue of AC Magazine, which will publish the first week of January.

Sponsors of the 2022 Design Excellence Awards include Blackglama Exclusively by Saga Furs, Fashionphile, Market, LIM College and Straub Collaborative, and Marchon Eyewear. For more information on categories and finalists, click here.