Last night’s star-studded event honoring our industry: In case you missed it - yesterday we hosted the 39th AAFA American Image Awards! Emceed by award winning actor Alan Cumming, the event celebrated innovation and leadership throughout the apparel and footwear industry and benefited the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, a program within the Council of Fashion Designers of America Foundation that nurtures and supports domestic production, connecting fashion designers to local manufacturing. See the press release here including photo gallery. Look back on the evening and share your favorite moments with the hashtag #AmericanImageAwards. Thank you to everyone who came out last night in NYC to support the honorees and the industry at large!

 

Lifetime Achievement Honoree Ed Nardoza, formerly of WWD, with AAFA's Rick Helfenbein	Paula Zusi and designer Norma Kamali, who introduced Ed Nardoza, at the AAFA American Image Awards

Remembering Rana Plaza: Yesterday marked four years since the tragedy at Rana Plaza. It was truly a tragic event, but soul searching following the disaster showed the need for serious reform in the Bangladesh garment industry. That resulted in the establishment of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, and other important initiatives. To get involved in AAFA’s efforts to improve worker safety and social responsibility across the industry, contact Nate Herman. 

Did you know tomorrow is #WorldIPDay? World Intellectual Property (IP) Day - in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Global Intellectual Property Center - is a day where we go above and beyond to help show our support for innovation, creativity, artistic expression and where we invite Congress to join us in celebrating America’s innovation economy. More than 45 million Americans work in IP fields and deliver the innovations that improve lives every day! Take part in the conversation on social media with the hashtag #WorldIPDay.

Members interested in AAFA’s Brand Protection Council (BPC), charged with helping to protect U.S.-branded products against cheap imitations that are flooding the marketplace, can contact Steve Lamar to learn more.