Independent Handbag Designer Awards

The 2008 Independent Handbag Designer Awards

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Handbag Designer 101 is proud to announce the winners of the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 18th, at the New York Historical Society. We were thrilled at the response we received for the second year. After receiving 600 applicants and then narrowing it down to 25 finalists and at last to have these 6 amazing winners, it is clear that they represent the future of handbags.

The award winners are: Best Student Made Handbag - Clara Yoo for C L A R A Y O O, Best Handmade Handbag - Darren Wallace for Darren Wallace, HBD101 and Bag Borrow or Steal's Audience Fan Favorite Handbag - Suzanna Scarola for Bellabags, Best Green Handbag - Helen Marchoschamer for Ecoist, Most Socially Responsible Handbag - Bridget Reid for PFYH Alpaca, Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design - Lui Antinous for Lui Antinous. Judith Leiber received the ICONOCLAST Award in Handbag Design at this event. JUDITH LEIBER the brand has changed the landscape of luxury accessory design.

In addition to the title in their respective categories, the winners received a variety of prizes such as an apprenticeship with Henri Bendel's handbag accessory design team for the Best Student Made Handbag; an opportunity to have their bags on Bag Borrow or Steal for the Audience Fan-Favorite, to design an original 360 Vodka eco-luxury handbag for the Best Green Handbag; a feature in Taunton Press' CraftStylish.com and a brand new Singer Curvy 8763 sewing machine for the Best Handmade Handbag; a chartable donation to their cause for the Most Socially Responsible Handbag, their bag featured on ABC's All My Children and a free booth at WWDMAGIC Accessories Show in Las Vegas (worth over ) for the Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design as well as other press-related accolades, a trunk show and window display at Henri Bendel and a season of free samples from LaunchBags. To learn more about the designers check out our live feature on the Early Show on CBS.

Special thanks to our sponsors: LaunchBags: the one-stop shop for all things handbag, Women's Wear Daily, The Luxury Institute, WWDMAGIC, Bag Borrow or Steal, Henri Bendel, The Fashion Business Improvement District: The Fashion Center, Commerce Bank, Rosenthal & Rosenthal Inc., The Garment Industry Development Corporation, Parsons The New School of Design, Wathne Limited, M&J Trimming, TUKATECH, Leather Suede Skins, Rosen & Chadick Fabrics, RIRI Zippers/Pacific Trimmings, Verve NYC, En Sof Graphics, Clothing Labels 4U.com, 360 Vodka, Glaceau, POM Wonderful, Casa de Vinos and the Bottomless Closet.

Click here to view the winners, finalists and press release of the 2008 Independent Handbag Designer Awards and 2007 Independent Handbag Designer Awards

Images provided by Stacey Ilyse Photography