Charming Susie Castillo captivated AAFA Image Awards night

20 May '08

2 min read

It was a memorable night of glamour and legends at the 30th Anniversary of the American Apparel & Footwear Association's (AAFA) American Image Awards.

The event, emceed by charismatic actress Susie Castillo (of MTV fame), was attended by over 500 apparel, footwear and retail industry CEO's and executives at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan.

This year's charities, Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) and Fashion Delivers, were also honored and will receive forty percent of the net proceeds from the evening.

Iconic Supermodel Iman presented her dear friend Alek Wek with the Spirit of a Woman Award on behalf of her work for refugees, women and children in her homeland Sudan.

Wek, upon receiving her bronze statue, stated that “organizations like K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers are truly impacting lives, and that is what is important.”

Women's Wear Daily Executive Editor Bridget Foley presented Mark Badgley and James Mischka with this year's Designer of the Year award.

They acknowledged and thanked Neil Cole and Iconix, their new parent company, for giving them the opportunity to truly create a lifestyle brand.

“There was a time when no one could even pronounce our name,” said James Mischka. Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) President Joyce Brown presented Chairman Mackey McDonald with the Excellence in Lifestyle Branding award on behalf of VF Corporation; Bloomingdale's Chairman and CEO Michael Gould presented Marvin Traub with the Lifetime Achievement Award with a speech that moved many in the audience to tears; Collective Brands President & CEO Matt Rubel paid a thoughtful and poignant tribute to Belk Inc as he presented President and CMO McKay Belk with the Retailer of the Year award.

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