Best Student Made Handbag	Best Handmade Handbag
Most Socially Responsible Handbag	Best Green Handbag
Audience Fan Favorite (based on Finalists selected)	Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design
New! Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements	New! Best Shoe in Overall Style & Design

The staff of Handbag Designer 101 will review all submissions at a Prescreening Event in late April at which five finalists will be selected in each category. These finalists will be judged on the merits of their submitted designs. All finalists will be invited to participate in the Third Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards that will take place in Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at the New York Historical Society in New York City.

Finalists must provide the handbag submitted in order to compete at the event. These bags and shoes will be presented in a static installation at the night of the event. Over 500 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers, will attend the 2009 Independent Handbag Designer Awards. (Note: Finalists are responsible for their own transportation to the event and must have additional samples ready and available for press.)

A Fashion Panel of esteemed and influential handbag design professors, experts, editors, stylists, and buyers will judge the finalists' designs presented and select a winner from each category who will receive the Best in each respective category and determine who truly stands out as an Independent Handbag and Shoe Designer. With prizes like a new SINGER CURVY sewing machine and being featured on the SINGER website where the winning designer will also share a handbag pattern from his/her collection for the Best Handmade Handbag and a booth with full marketing and promotion (over $10,000 value) at WWDMAGIC for the Best Overall Handbag in Style and Design, the 2009 Independent Handbag Designer Awards has truly become the most prolific accessory industry event of its kind. More prizes to follow shortly...

New! Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements

CRYSTALLIZED(™), the brand for all loose cut crystals manufactured by Swarovski, invites all handbag designers to create innovative new handbags designs for the sparkling new category, Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements. This unique collaboration will inspire handbag designers to incorporate crystals as creative ingredient and work with new ideas and techniques for the most innovative and unique designs. For the first time ever all registered designers may participate by submitting a jpeg of 1 detailed original sketch of their handbag design, incorporating CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements. Designers are encouraged to create a handbag of any size, material or silhouette while utilizing the CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements as embellishment, trimming or even as part of the core concept. The five best concepts will be chosen the Handbag Designer 101 Preliminary Judging Panel, giving the selected designers unlimited access and free of charge to CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements to execute their actual finished sample in time for the Final Judging Panel Review. The winner of the 2009 "Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements" award will receive a crystal sponsorship with free access to crystals and Swarovski know how, to produce a limited edition collection of the winner's bag. In addition, the winning handbag will be featured in several CRYSTALLIZED(™) channels and communication tools in the US and internationally with industry and end consumer exposure.

The CRYSTALLIZED(™) - Swarovski Elements collection of crystal stones and semi-finished products along with color charts and application instructions will be available as download via Swarovski's website WWW.SWAROVSKI.COM/CRYSTALLIZED (Login with username: crystallized.affiliate@swarovski.com - Password: handbagdesigner or alternatively, use this Direct Login link).

New! Best Shoe in Overall Style and Design

By popular demand, Handbag Designer 101 is proud to announce the addition of the Best Shoe in Overall Style and Design. In conjunction with Foot Petals, the winning emerging shoe designer of this category will garner the opportunity to produce a capsule collection with national distribution as well as a booth at WWDMAGIC.

Lulu Guinness
Celebrated British designer Lulu Guinness will receive the IHDA ICONOCLAST Award this year. Lulu Guinness famous for her exquisite, witty handbags and accessories, originally launched her company in 1989 and instantly became a "must" in every fashion aficionado's international address book. To celebrate the brand's 20th Anniversary Year, Lulu Guinness will be launching a student scholarship at London's famed Cordwainers college at London College of Fashion and releasing a new limited collection of her legendary Rose Baskets, which will be on display at an event at the Victoria & Albert Museum as well as the IHDA Event in June 09. Throughout the year, Lulu will be collaborating with famed and up & coming artists to produce limited edition speciality items to be sold at the Lulu Guinness stores worldwide.

Deadline: All entries must be received by 11:59pm on April 30th, 2009.
Entries submitted without full information filled out will be disqualified.

To learn more about the qualifications for all other categories category or to register: click here.

WE CANNOT CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ENTRIES UNTIL ALL ENTRIES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED.