Fashion Group International made a huge statement at the milestone 30th anniversary of the Rising Star Awards.
Leaders across fashion, beauty, accessories, and sustainability came together for a luncheon awards ceremony that wonderfully recognized emerging talent along with fantastic industry impact. Hosted by Coco Rocha, the annual event featured keynote remarks from artist and designer Ruben Toledo.
“We all rose because someone believed in us, guided us, and gave us a chance. The 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,” Rocha said.
Maryanne Grisz, FGI President and CEO counted the day as days of great accomplishments. “As 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. This year’s honorees reflect a new generation of leaders whose creativity and vision are already influencing the global fashion landscape,” she reflected. “At FGI, we are proud to continue fostering those connections and supporting the pathways that bring emerging talent to the forefront.”
(Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Designers, executives, previous Rising Star recipients, and tastemakers including Fern Mallis, Ken Downing, Marylou Luther, Bach Mai, Carlos Campos, Kate Barton, and more were in attendance to show support.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.
(Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
FGI Rising Star Award Winners 2026 were: 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); and Beauty Award: Presented by Romero Jennings (M·A·C) to Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks (Ashunta). Also, Fashion Apparel: Ready-to-Wear Award, Menswear: Presented by Frederick Anderson to Wangda Chen (Wàngda); Fashion Apparel: Ready-to-Wear Award, Womenswear: Presented by Frederick Anderson to Aiste Hong (AISTĖ HONG) and Fashion Apparel: Eveningwear Award: Presented by Bibhu Mohapatra to Jeanette Limas (Jeanette Limas Studio).
Additional special honors included the Hilldun Business Innovation Award, presented to Justin Abrams by Joshua Kapelman.
The inaugural Media Impact Award was presented to Paige DeSorbo by Sally Holmes, Editor-in-Chief of InStyle Magazine. The Macy’s Future Fashion Award was presented to Michaela Hahn by previous honoree and current Macy’s Assistant Buyer, Fatmata Camara. Mindy Grossman, Partner and Vice-Chair of Consello, received the FGI Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her leadership and lasting influence on the retail and fashion industries, presented by designer Jeffrey Banks.
“It is a true honor to be recognized by Fashion Group International, an organization that has long supported creativity, innovation, and emerging talent,” said Mindy Grossman. “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.”
