Accessories Council Announces 2026 Design Excellence Award Finalists; Voting Open Until October 26

The Accessories Council announced the finalists for its 2026 Design Excellence Awards, recognizing innovative products across the accessories industry. The awards include four eyewear categories split between independent brands and multi-brand companies, alongside segments for handbags, footwear, jewelry, sustainability, and technology. Notable optical finalists include Silhouette, Krewe, EssilorLuxottica, Marcolin, Safilo, and Barton Perreira. Winners will be revealed on November 2 at a New York City event. Public voting is currently open and remains available until October 26. Since the program’s inception in 2019, it has celebrated hundreds of brands. Accessories Council President Karen Giberson highlighted increased participation in the optical sector, noting eyewear’s growing role as an expression of personal style and design innovation within the broader accessories market.