Tiffany Haddish hosts the FGI Rising Star Awards 2025
Last week, Fashion Group International (FGI) brought together industry leaders, rising talent, and luminaries for the 29th annual FGI Rising Star Awards in New York City. The red-carpet luncheon and awards ceremony, hosted by actress and performer Tiffany Haddish, celebrated emerging voices in fashion, beauty, accessories, and fine jewelry. The main highlight: the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Robert Chavez, former Hermes Americas CEO.
Haddish underscored FGI’s global impact: “Today we celebrate 29 years of honoring emerging talent shaping the future of fashion, beauty, and beyond.”
Robert Chavez, former CEO of Hermes Americas, receiving the FGI Lifetime Achievement Award 2025
Receiving FGI’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award, Robert Chavez, former President and CEO of Hermès Americas, emphasized the power of mentorship and relationships in the fashion industry: “It’s always about people… it’s been an amazing journey.”
Now in its second year, the Macy’s Future Fashion Award in Fashion Merchandising recognized Camille Jiang of LIM College, who received a $1,000 scholarship. Additional honorees included Pritika Swarup (Beauty), Paola Sasplugas (Fine Jewelry), Natalia Fedner (Eveningwear), and Bonnie Young (Ready-to-Wear), with co-winners Nanette Adair and Sangmin Park taking home the Accessories category award.
Alyce Panico, Robert Chavez, Maryanne Grisz, and Gary Wassner At FGI Rising Star Awards in NYC April 16 [Addy Media].JPG
The Rising Star Awards have long served as a launchpad for notable names including Tory Burch, Jason Wu, and Brandon Maxwell. This year’s winners were selected by FGI members and an expert jury comprising influential figures such as Fern Mallis, Ken Downing, and Constance White.
Preceding the main event, an April 15 fireside chat at APL Soho, moderated by FGI Chairperson Alyce Panico, featured insights from Chavez, Gary Wassner, NJ Falk, and Tiffany Haddish on leadership, mentorship, and giving back to the fashion community.
According to FGI President and CEO Maryanne Grisz, “Our FGI Rising Stars embody the spirit of dreaming big. Today’s event not only recognizes their achievements but also connects them with a global network ready to support their creative journeys.”
