June 07, 2023

2023 COUTURE Design Awards was a Celebration of Community and Design

Words by: Michelle Orman

I
n addition to revealing a stunning selection of best in show pieces, this year’s 2023 Design Awards was demonstrative of the strong sense of community that characterizes COUTURE. The genuine love and appreciation COUTURE designers have for one another was evident throughout the celebration at the Encore Theater, with winners thanking other designers from the stage and expressing their gratitude to be a part of such a supportive community. With a strong showing of French brands taking home awards, and many first time exhibitors named as finalists and winners, the showcase of winning pieces are illustrative of the curation of exceptional global design that makes COUTURE so distinctive.

Header image features Nina Dzhokhadze and Natia Chkhartishvili of NeverNoT, winners of this year’s newly introduced “Best in Below $10,000 Retail” category.

The genuine love and appreciation COUTURE designers have for one another was evident throughout the celebration at the Encore Theater, with winners thanking other designers from the stage and expressing their gratitude to be a part of such a supportive community.

Opening the show was COUTURE’s Director, Gannon Brousseau, “I just love that I get to be a part of celebrating you, your creativity, your talent, your passion and enthusiasm, and all of the hard work you put into getting to COUTURE each year. This is your night; we are here to celebrate you!”

Sean Moor, Lucy Rees, Iryna Omelchenko, Marion Fasel and Ara Vartanian

Gannon went on to thank this year’s panel of judges, stating, “Thank you to designer Ara Vartanian, retailers Iryna Omelchenko from Il Cammeo and Sean Moore of Borsheims, and lending their keen editorial eye to the competition, Lucy Rees of Galerie Magazine, and writer, curator and historian, Marion Fasel of The Adventurine. We know your job was extremely challenging and we are infinitely grateful to you for the seriousness and thoughtfulness with which you took on this task.”

Jennifer Csengody-Novetsky and Tara Maria Famiglletti from ONDYN

“I’m so happy this award is so heavy, I feel like I’m going to fly to the roof,” noted 3-time COUTURE Design Award Winner, Tara Maria Famiglietti of ONDYN, who won the award for Best in the Diamonds Under $40,000 Retail category. “I just want to say I am so proud and honored to be a part of this family. We’re so different from the fashion industry where everyone snubs each other. We support each other and it’s so beautiful. Thank you for showing us the love.”

Kim Cosella of Sorellina

A celebration of family was a recurring theme throughout the evening. Sorellina designer, Kim Cosella, who took home the award for Best in Platinum, thanked her team from the stage and then went on to say, “Nothing would be possible without my beautiful, fierce, brilliant sister Kim. You are a force, you are our captain, I love you so much.”

Alix Dumas with COUTURE Director, Gannon Brousseau

First time exhibitor, Alix Dumas, who won the award for Best in Haute Couture enthused, “Thank you so much, it’s amazing. I’ve put so much work in at the bench to make this piece, I’m very touched to see that it’s being awarded. Thank you to all the COUTURE team, especially to my family. Thank you to my husband who makes it possible every day. Thank you.”

John Green with last year's Cindy Edelstein Award Recipient, Tony Goldsberry

The evening wrapped with the presentation of this year’s Cindy Edelstein Award, which was given to John Green of Lux Bond and Green, who was honored for his unabated enthusiasm, his continual support and mentorship of designers and his dedication to the industry.

Visibly moved by the acknowledgment, John said, “There’s a lot of people here I don’t know but I promise you, I love all of you. I love this industry. I’ve been very blessed, I’m the fourth generation in our family business, we’re 125 years old this year, we’re a family business, fifth generation, my son Charlie is sitting up there, we’re gonna be here for a long time, but it’s really about this community, this jewelry community is so special. We all have friends that are in this industry or that industry, but then when you tell them the things we’ve all done together at COUTURE to help each other and support each other, it’s really amazing.”