Alyce Panico, Coco Rocha, Maryanne Grisz, Nancy Becker, photo by Laurel Marcus
Women (particularly mothers), mentorship, and storytelling were at the heart of FGI’s 30th Annual Rising Star Awards held once again at 583 Park Avenue on Thursday afternoon. The event kicked off with an 11 AM cocktail hour where you could easily pick out the award finalists and have a chat about their product du jour — be it handbags, eyeglasses, cosmetics, jewelry, evening wear, or perhaps a new way to promote sustainability in fashion.
Coco Rocha, photo by Laurel Marcus
Hosted by Coco Rocha (a model with an 8-year-old mentorship program training over 5,000 models from around the world, as well as a mother to three kids), a keynote speech by Ruben Toledo dedicated to his late wife Isabel, but with some important pointers for rising stars, was read from a comically giant two-part scroll.
Aiste Hong Ready-to-Wear Winner with Frederick Anderson, photo by Laurel Marcus
Then, a lifetime achievement award for Mindy Grossman, and a new award for Media Impact presented to Paige Desorbo, plus the usual categories previously mentioned, this luncheon packs a punch. Sponsors were People Inc., Simon G. Fine Jewelry, Hilldun, Macy’s, and Fanatics Foundation.
Presenters included Alina Cho, Bibhu Mohapatra, Brooke Brinkman, Fatmata Camara, Frederick Anderson, Jason Schupach, Jeffrey Banks, Joshua Kapelman, Romero Jennings, Nicole Miller, and Sally Holmes, and co-chairs were Alyce Panico and Nancy Berger.
Marilyn Kirschner, Marylou Louther, and Ruben Toledo, photo by Laurel Marcus
Add to the mix fashion icons including Ken Downing, Fern Mallis, Marylou Luther, and of course, FGI President and CEO Maryanne Grisz, and it’s no wonder those just embarking on a fashion career could be intimidated. Jeanette Limas, who won for Fashion Apparel: Eveningwear, remarked how when she heard “Fern Mallis,” she got nervous because she had studied her in school and dreamed of someday meeting her in person.
“Vision, grit, and something original” are important, said Rocha, but “none of us made it without someone else.” Nancy Berger spoke of “identifying talent at a pivotal moment and encouraging it to grow.” Influencer extraordinaire Paige Desorbo said it was important to “figure out who I already was, then everything kind of shifted.
It’s not just about being seen, it’s about being understood. People can tell when you’re trying just a little bit too hard. Trust that who you are is enough and show up with that consistently.”
Evan Hirsch, photo by Laurel Marcus
Ruben told a great story about how he “dove in early” by taking Isabel’s dresses (fresh off the sewing machine) to Pat Field and Henri Bendel, who both placed orders, although they had very diverse clientele. On starting a company: “Your business will resemble you, so think about that – it’s like dogs look like their owners.” Another valuable lesson he imparted: “Don’t work against yourself – no self-sabotage.”
Jamie Books, the winner of Fine Jewelry, was one of several women who mentioned motherhood. “Building something while raising someone is no small feat.” She was not the only one – Ashunta Sheriff-Kendrick, who won the Beauty category, mentioned creating her business while tending to eight (yes, 8!) kids (shoutout to her daughter’s 27th birthday), while Limas spoke of just having had a baby 5 weeks ago – you would never guess it by how she looked in her self-designed red gown!
Ken Downing, photo by Laurel Marcus
The theme of storytelling was also bandied about. “Today we celebrate not just talent but the courage of creators and storytellers,” said Maryann Grisz, wearing an absolutely stunning silver shoulder ornament by previous accessories winner Kate Barton, “Rising star awards are truly a journey for a creative person with business strategy.” “True luxury is not in excess; it’s in the details. The stones hold stories,” said Jamie Books of Mason and Books, winner for Fine Jewelry.
Frederick Anderson while presenting the Fashion Apparel award for Ready-To-Wear railed “Coco Chanel started her business during WWII. This is not WWII, at least mot yet, but it is a time when Saks and Neiman’s are failing and we need to fix this!”
Surprise — the award ended up in the second tie of the afternoon.
Red Carpet, photo by Marilyn Kirschner
Interestingly, both ties (the other was in Accessories) involved designers at my table who seemed to have PR veteran Patrick McGregor (seated to my left) to thank. “Fashion is a team sport – no one gets ahead alone,” Rocha said as she closed the luncheon, quipping that since it had run late, she would be picking up her kid from school a little overdressed. Betting it’s not the first time!
FGI Rising Star Award Winners 2026:
Award Winners, photo by Laurel Marcus
Jewelry Awards, Presented by Simon G. Jewelry:
Fine Jewelry Award: Presented by Brooke Brinkman (Simon G. Jewelry) and Alina Cho to Jamie Books (Mason and Books)
Fashion Jewelry Award: Presented by Brooke Brinkman (Simon G. Jewelry) and Alina Cho to Ashley Moubayed (Don’t Let Disco)
Accessories Award: Presented by Nicole Miller to both Erin Saluti (Eittem) and Sarah Fiszel & Maxwell Federbush (Brave Pudding)
Sustainability Award: Presented by Jason Schupbach (F.I.T.) to Chuks Collins (Chuks Collins)
Beauty Award: Presented by Romero Jennings (M·A·C) to Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks (Ashunta)
Fashion Apparel: Ready-to-Wear Award, Menswear: Presented by Frederick Anderson to Wangda Chen (Wàngda)
Fashion Apparel: Ready-to-Wear Award, Women’s Wear: Presented by Frederick Anderson to Aiste Hong (AISTĖ HONG)
Fashion Apparel: Eveningwear Award: Presented by Bibhu Mohapatra to Jeanette Limas (Jeanette Limas Studio)
