American Image Awards Honor Industry Luminaries, Raise Funds for Fashion Manufacturing

American Image Awards Honor Industry Luminaries, Raise Funds for Fashion Manufacturing Jean E. Palmieri NEW YORK — Business may be challenged, but the mood was upbeat and festive as the fashion industry turned out in force to honor a few of its own Monday night at the American Apparel & Footwear Association's 39th annual American Image Awards. The event drew a record 400-plus crowd to celebrate Andrew Rosen, founder and chief executive officer of Theory, Stuart Vevers, executive creative director of Coach Inc., designer Nick Graham and Marc Fisher Footwear. Ed Nardoza, the former editor in chief of Women's Wear Daily, received the group's Lifetime Achievement Award. Alan Cumming, decked out in a Nick Graham tuxedo, patterned shirt and Kenneth Cole shoes, served as the emcee of the evening held at 583 Park Avenue. Graham, who received the Fashion Maverick Award, mused that after a multidecade career in fashion, where he founded and built Joe Boxer and created his own eponymous label, he was "an overnight sensation — that took forever." He recalled a few of his more outrageous publicity stunts including a transatlantic fashion show on a Virgin America flight — where he and Richard Branson dressed as flight attendants in drag – as well as his most recent excursion to Mars with "models" Bill Nye and Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook. Read More... Fashion 3