New York, NY — February 23, 2024
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is pleased to announce Wes Gordon as the esteemed Designer of the Year honoree at the 2024 American Image Awards. Wes Gordon, serving as the Creative Director of Carolina Herrera New York, has made an indelible mark on the fashion industry with their innovative and visionary contributions.
Wes Gordon currently leads the global creative strategy for the iconic fashion house of Carolina Herrera, overseeing all brand platforms, including ready-to-wear, bridal, fragrance, beauty, and eyewear. For their inaugural runway show, Spring 2019, the designer showcased their ability to seamlessly blend tradition with contemporary elegance. With the latest collection, Gordon paid homage to their predecessor by pulling inspiration from Herrera’s personal style, creating architectural silhouettes, dramatic shoulder treatments, and using sprinkles of floral decoration throughout, each with their own personal flare to push the brand confidently forward into the house’s next creative chapter.
Past recipients of the Designer of the Year Honoree include Brandon Maxwell, Christian Siriano, Cynthia Rowley, Eileen Fisher, Gabriela Hearst, Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, and Stuart Vevers for Coach.
This year, the organization will also celebrate Lizanne Kindler, Executive Chair & CEO of KnitWell Group, honored as Person of the Year; Carhartt, Inc., recognized as Company of the Year and being accepted by Danilo Amoretty, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain – Product Supply and Operations; Allan Ellinger, Senior Managing Partner, MMG Advisors, acclaimed as Trailblazer; Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, named Global Vanguard; and Global Fashion Agenda, with CEO Federica Marchionni accepting the Eco-Steward of the Year award.
The 2024 American Image Awards, set to take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Gotham Hall in New York City, will celebrate Wes Gordon’s exceptional contributions to the world of fashion, alongside each of the event’s other stellar honorees.
Full details about the honorees and gala, including how to participate can be found at www.americanimageawards.org.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN APPAREL & FOOTWEAR ASSOCIATION
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. Representing more than 1,000 world famous name brands, AAFA is the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management, and shareholders, its more than 3.2 million U.S. workers, and its contribution of $490 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA drives progress on three key priorities: Brand Protection; Supply Chain & Sourcing; and Trade, Logistics, & Manufacturing. AAFA approaches this work through the lens of purpose-driven leadership in a manner that supports each member’s ability to build and sustain inclusive and diverse cultures, meet and advance ESG goals, and draw upon the latest technology.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN IMAGE AWARDS
Owned and operated by AAFA for close to 50 years, AAFA’s American Image Awards has been honoring those who have exemplified leadership, excellence, and outstanding achievement in all sectors of the apparel and footwear industry.