Fashion Group International will mark the 30th anniversary of the FGI Rising Star Awards on April 16 at 583 Park Avenue in New York. The red carpet luncheon and awards ceremony recognizes emerging talent and industry excellence.
The event will feature keynote speaker Ruben Toledo, painter, sculptor, designer, illustrator, fashion chronicler, and recipient of both the 2018 FGI Fashion Visionary Award and the 2015 FGI Rising Star Beauty/Fragrance Entrepreneur Award, co-awarded with his late wife, Isabel Toledo.
Related Articles
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the FGI Rising Star Awards. The event reflects Fashion Group’s long-standing commitment to championing emerging talent and uniting our industry in support of innovation, creativity and growth,” said Maryanne Grisz, president and chief executive officer of Fashion Group International. “It is especially meaningful to welcome Ruben Toledo as our keynote speaker for this milestone anniversary. A past Rising Star honoree and Fashion Visionary Award recipient, alongside his wife, the legendary Isabel Toledo, Ruben embodies the spirit of creativity and imagination that the Rising Star Awards were created to celebrate.”
You May Also Like
Special awards for 2026 include the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented to Mindy Grossman, partner and vice-chair of Consello, in recognition of her transformative leadership and enduring impact on the retail and fashion landscape. Jeffrey Banks will present the award to her.
“It is a true honor to be recognized by Fashion Group International, an organization that has long supported creativity, innovation and emerging talent. As a CEO, I’ve always believed that our industry’s future depends on lifting up and investing in the next generation of voices and leaders,” said Grossman.
Jason Abrams, cofounder of Flagship, will be recognized with the Hilldun Business Innovation Award, presented by Joshua Kapelman of Hilldun Corp., and People Inc. will present a new Media Impact Award to an honoree who hasn’t been announced yet. The award will be presented by Sally Holmes of InStyle. The Macy’s Future Fashion Award will also be presented to a standout fashion merchandising college student.
Rising Star awards will be presented across the categories of Fashion Apparel: Ready-to-Wear and Eveningwear; Accessories: Fine and Fashion, Beauty, Jewelry and Sustainability.
In Fine Jewelry, the contenders are Jamie Books, Mason and Books; Melizza Jaune Tanpoco and Maika Jae Tanpoco, Jaune Pearls; Samantha Siu, Samantha Sir New York, and Sara Jacobson, Sara Katherine Jacobson.
For Fashion Jewelry, the finalists are Ashley Moubayed, Don’t Let Disco; Harrison Berrioi, Harry Berry NY, and Sadie Zafar, Zaafar.
Competing in Beauty are Angela Mustone, High on Love; Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks, Ashunta; Jen Sugermeyer, ATA Cosmetics; MJ Lee, TimeSavvy; Remy Holwick, Baby le Bébé, and Sonia Singh, Sonela Beauty.
Vying for the Sustainability Award, which will be presented by Jason S. Schubach, president of FIT, are finalists Akua Shabaka and Rebecca L. Henry, House of Aama; Chuks Collins; Erin Saluti of Eittem; Evan Hirsch, Evan Hirsch New York; Holly Garrard, Fundae; Lawrence Pizzi, Lawrence Pizzi Collection, and Sasha Royce, Smart SwimSuits.
For Ready-to-Wear, which will be presented by Frederick Andersson, the finalists are Aiste Hong; Akua Shabaka and Rebecca L. Henry, House of Aama; Chuks Collins; Jenny La Fata, Lafata; Joseph Millman; Chamberlin New York; Kent Anthony, Kent Anthony New York; Shao Yang, Shao, and Wangda Chen, Wàngda.
In Eveningwear, presented by Bibhu Mohapatra, the contenders are Dana Asady, Madbrook by Dana Asady; Emily Shalant and Evelyn Anastos, Emily Shalant; Ilona Perla Marie-Claire Slama, Ilona; Jeanette Limas, Jeanette Limas Studio; Natasha Das, Danarys New York, and Sareh Nouri.
Competing in Accessories are Alex Schinasi and Yoni Sheleg, Hulken; Erin Saluti, Eittem; Francisco Javier Bata Martinez and Jose Alberto Tassinari Nava, Sistta; Khia Mercer, Khia Tullaé; Lauren Finelli Snedecor, Dear Finelli; Sarah Fiszel and Maxwell Federbush, Brave Pudding, and Tracy V. Green and Nancey Harris, Vontelle Eyewear.
Additional honorees and presenters will be revealed in the coming weeks.