AAFA honours Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel

Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel, the founders of Mansur Gavriel, have been selected by the American Apparel and Footwear Association for the prestigious 2018 American Image Awards Fashion Maverick awards. Founded in 2012 and recognised for its unique approach to retail, Mansur Gavriel launched its first sold out products mainly via Instagram.

The design duo joins a dynamic group of honourees including Person of the Year, Emanuel (Manny) Chirico, chairman and CEO of PVH; Company of the Year, Camuto Group; Designer of the Year, Joseph Altuzarra; and Retailer of the Year, Fred Segal.

Award-winning journalist and best-selling author Katie Couric will emcee the annual gala, taking place on April 16, 2018 in New York City.

Recognised for its unique approach to retail, Mansur Gavriel launched its first sold out products mainly via Instagram. Founded in 2012 with just a bucket bag and a tote, Mansur Gavriel’s Italian made accessories have since become iconic and allowed the brand to successfully expand into ready-to-wear last year, with more product categories to come.

“We are pleased to honour these individuals and organisations for their creativity, innovation, and business leadership. Each honouree is disrupting the industry with keen imagination and the ability to inspire today’s consumers,” said Rick Helfenbein, president and CEO of AAFA. “We welcome Katie Couric as our host with great anticipation, helping to shine a well-deserved spotlight on each of their contributions to the industry.”

Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist, cancer advocate, documentary filmmaker and New York Times best-selling author of The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons From Extraordinary Lives. Known for reporting from the front lines of politics, entertainment, sports, philanthropy, the arts, and business — Couric is an expert at sharing the unique stories of leaders and visionaries.

The AAFA American Image Awards honours those who have exemplified leadership, excellence, and outstanding achievement in all sectors of the apparel and footwear industry, including education, design, manufacturing, and retail. Through this event, AAFA brings together a unique cross-section of influencers to celebrate creativity while drawing attention to public policy impacts on fashion and design.

For the second year, AAFA is partnering with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Foundation as its beneficiary.