The American Apparel & Footwear Assocation (AAFA) announced its group of inspiring honorees for this year’s 2024 American Image Awards. Celebrating excellence and influence across the fashion landscape, this prestigious event spotlights visionaries who have embodied Innovation, Stewardship, Leadership, and Global Impact.

CFDA member Wes Gordon, Creative Director of Carolina Herrera, is the 2024 Designer of the Year. The  honorees also include

Lizanne Kindler, Executive Chair & CEO, KnitWell Group, for Person of the Year; Carhartt, Inc. is Company of the Year; Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre, is Global Vanguard; Global Fashion Agenda, accepted by CEO, Federica Marchionni, as Eco-Steward of the Year, and Allan Ellinger, Senior Managing Partner, MMG Advisors, as Trailblazer.

The gala –at Gotham Hall in New York City on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – will feature return emcee Segun Oduolowu, Boston Globe Today TV show host. The CFDA Foundation is proud to be the event’s longstanding charitable beneficiary.

Steve Lamar, President and CEO, AAFA, said, “This year’s American Image Awards honorees have shepherded significant advancements throughout our industry – transforming the business through innovation and stewardship while accelerating traceability, transparency, and technology across their U.S. and global operations. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments and ambitions.”

“Entering our eighth consecutive year as AAFA’s beneficiary partner, the CFDA and its Foundation are incredibly proud that with AAFA’s support we are able to foster critical initiatives bettering the American fashion industry at large,” said Steven Kolb, CEO, CFDA. “We thank AAFA for their continued focus and partnership of the CFDA Foundation, which is so crucial to our initiatives around health, safety, diversity, inclusion, and progress.”

Stay tuned for more updates ahead of the ceremony.