Finalists Selected for the 2009 Independent Handbag Designer Awards Now
with Shoes
Handbag Designer 101 Honors Handbag and Shoe Excellence at the Third Annual "Handbag
Awards".
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 9, 2009 -- Handbag Designer 101, the handbag designer resource, announces
today the long awaited results of the finalists for the Independent Handbag Designer Awards Now with Shoes.
Over 600 applications were received from around the world ranging with diverse backgrounds from North Dakota
to Mongolia to Finland. The Independent Handbag Designer Awards is the only design competition of its kind in
the world for handbag designers to receive credibility and recognition to stand out in today's competitive
accessory market. The winners will be announced on June 17th at the IHDA event at the New York Historical
Society. The live Finalist Announcement can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jINHPgdQVdU
"These 35 designers whether they are established or emerging, share a common passion, commitment and
creativity to make a unique handbag while being role-models for entrepreneurship and small business," says
Emily Blumenthal, founder of Handbag Designer 101 and the Independent Handbag Designer Awards. "Each
designer is well deserved in their recognition for in each category of Best Student-Made Handbag, Best
Handmade Handbag, Most-Socially Responsible Handbag, Best Green Handbag, Best Use of Swarovski
Crystallized () Elements, Best Show in Overall Style and Design and Best Handbag in Overall Style and
Design."
These finalists were chosen by a preliminary judging panel of Handbag Designer 101. A Judging Panel
consisting of Famed Handbag Designer and 2007 IHDA Lifetime Achievement Recipient of 2007, Carlos Falchi,
Lisa Smilor (Associate Director for the Council of Fashion Designers of America: CFDA), Lincoln Moore, (SVP
DMM, Accessories, Saks Fifth Avenue), Sam Edelman (CEO of Sam Edelman), Stephan Toljan, (CCB Vice
President Market Management of Swarovski), Devi Kroell (CEO & CCO for Devi Kroell), Christi