New York NY, June 27, 2007 – Handbag Designer 101, in conjunction with The Fashion Center BID announced the winners of the first annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 20th at the Museum of the City of New York.

The Independent Handbag Designer Awards provided an opportunity for budding designers to break into the notoriously exclusive fashion and accessory business. Designers of the most stylish and trendy handbags squared off against one another with 5 awards given for Handbag Design Excellence. The pressure was on and creativity took over as the contenders designed competing handbags for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show their work among their peers in New York City, the fashion capital of the world.

Famous designer Carlos Falchi received the first Lifetime Achievement Award at this event. Falchi has changed the landscape of accessory design. For more than three decades, he has earned international acclaim as an innovative designer of modern, cutting-edge handbags and accessories.

Handbag Designer 101 – the handbag designer resource (www.handbagdesigner101.com), is a hotspot website where handbag designers, aficionados and experts unite to find undiscovered handbags by independent designers; learn about the latest handbag trends; see the handbags that celebrities are wearing today and find out about the latest handbag shopping events. The brainchild of Yasmena and Yazzy Bag creator and handbag designer consultant, Emily Blumenthal, Handbag Designer 101 bridges the gap between designer handbag fan blogs and high-fashion websites.

“This handbag competition offered a unique platform to talented and undiscovered designers to receive the validation and accolades that are long overdue for being an independent handbag designer and become the latest ‘it’ bag," says Blumenthal. “We were thrilled with the number of entries from aspiring designers and the amazing response we had to our first IHDA. We are looking forward to next year and seeing the Independent Handbag Designer Awards grow as an industry event.”

A Fashion Panel of judges consisted of: Carrie Chapman (Senior Accessories Buyer for Barneys New York), Rebecca Weinberg (Emmy Award Winning costume designer and stylist), Phyllis Magidson (Curator of costume design and textiles for the Museum of the City of New York), Paula Correri (Accessories Editor of the Tobe Report), Julia Poteat (Assistant Professor of Fashion Methods for Parsons The New School For Design), Robin Beck (Accessories Editor for CosmoGIRL! Magazine) and Irenka Jakubiak (Editorial and Fashion Director, Accessories Magazine.)

AWARD WINNERS

Best Student Made Handbag: Charmaine Ho of Me Char

Presented by Barbara Blair Randall, Executive Director of the Fashion Center Business Improvement District

Best Handmade Handbag: JP Dewberry of SoVi – Southern Vitality

Presented by Rosy Ngo, Editorial Director of Potter Craft/Random House

Handbag Designer 101 Audience Selected Handbag: Julie Lazarus of Elezar

Presented by Robin Beck, Accessories Editor of CosmoGIRL!

Most Socially Responsible Handbag: Maria Estrada of IGNES Handbags

Presented by Gabrielle Gilliam, Executive Director of the Bottomless Closet

Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design: Katherine Kwei of Katherine Kwei

Presented by Irenka Jakubiak, Editorial and Fashion Director for Accessories Magazine

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Carlos Falchi

Presented by Lincoln Moore, Vice-President and Divisional Merchandising Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue

In addition to the title in their respective categories, the winners received a monetary prize, as well as gift certificates to the Garment Center’s renowned stores, Rosen and Chadick Fabrics, M & J Trimming, Clothing Labels 4 you.com, free publicity representation from LookBook Media, a slot on Karen Salmansohn’s radio show “Be Happy Dammit,” and a feature in the August and October issue of Accessories Magazine.

Bottomless Closet wishes to congratulate all the nominees and the winners! We also thank all the attendees who generously donated handbags for our clients!