The 2024 Femmy Awards took place on August 6th at Cipriani 42nd Street, held to celebrate excellence in the intimate apparel industry while funding our mission to strengthen its future with scholarship, internship, awards and grant programs. Our organization has served as a space for industry leaders to exchange information and ideas for 66 years, supporting the intimate apparel market as a vital aspect of the fashion industry.
“This year we applaud those members of the industry who have turned options into action, be it ecologically innovative methods of manufacturing, upcycling, recycling, environmentally conscious invention, or reducing our carbon footprint,” said Tina Wilson, The Underfashion Club president.
The event was co-hosted by fashion designer Stan Herman and stage and film actor/director Tamara Tunie. Herman, who was president of the CFDA for 16 years, has worked in the intimate apparel industry since 1965 for such brands as Van Raolte, Swank, Youthcraft/Charmfit, Slumber Togs, Kellwood, Carole Hochman and Komar. He has been selling his loungewear line on QVC for more than 31 years. Tunie’s career encompasses stage, TV and film, and she appeared last year in the role of Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” She is also helming the new musical, “Dorothy Dandridge: The Musical.”
The stars of the evening were the 2024 Femmy Honorees who’ve made great achievements in the business of intimate apparel and the 21st Annual Student Design Contest winners who created beautiful lingerie out of recycled materials. Congratulations!
The 2024 Femmy Honorees included Commando, Eberjey, Regina Miracle, Vanity Fair and Mayur Vansia, director of innovation at Victoria’s Secret.
The Iconic Sleepwear Award was given to Eberjey, accepted by CEO and Co-Founder Mariela Rovito.
Raised in Miami and born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mariela Rovito is a self-starter entrepreneur who co-founded Eberjey alongside Ali Mejia. In her early twenties, while working with Ali, Mariela was introduced to Ali’s initial designs and ideas. Recognizing the immense potential, she quickly teamed up with Ali to turn their daydream into a thriving reality. As CEO, Mariela has been instrumental in steering Eberjey to its current success, blending her entrepreneurial spirit with a dedication to creating a brand that embodies softness and authenticity. Her vision and leadership continue to shape Eberjey’s journey, ensuring it remains a beloved brand that stands for comfort, quality, and sustainability.
Eberjey has been inspiring softer moments since its inception in 1996. Their philosophy centers on creating timeless styles that are effortless, free-flowing, and supremely soft, ensuring they flatter from every angle. This dedication to quality and comfort stems from decades of meticulous crafting, testing, and sourcing, making Eberjey’s pieces ones you can cherish for years to come.
The Fan Favorite Award was given to Vanity Fair, accepted by Senior Director of Marketing Ann Usinger.
Ann Usinger is responsible for Marketing, Merchandising, and Design of Vanity Fair Lingerie styles, including the Illumination® panty collection, which has led the market year after year. Prior to joining Vanity Fair in 2016, Usinger held several roles at Valspar and Newell. She has 25 years of consumer product and apparel experience.
Vanity Fair Lingerie™ has consistently redefined the standards of intimate apparel through design leadership and fashion innovation. With a focus on superior quality, fit, and feminine styles, the brand is passionately committed to empowering women to confidently embrace life’s moments. Founded in 1919, the Vanity Fair Lingerie™ brand is part of the Fruit of the Loom, Inc. family of brands.
Vanity Fair’s Femmy Fan Favorite Award recognizes that Vanity Fair’s Illumination String Bikini is the #1 Selling Women’s Panty for 4 years running!
– Circana, Retail Tracking Service, U.S. Dollar Sales, Annual 2020-2023, Vanity Fair Model #18108
The Sustainable Innovation Award was given to Regina Miracle, accepted by Chief R&D and Design Officer Bull Lui Zhenqiang.
Bull graduated from Jiangnan University (JNU) in 1998 with a specialization in textile design. He joined Regina Miracle, where he has since then been undertaking work related to product research and development at the company. In 2013, he earned a degree of executive Master of Business Administration from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.
With over 20 years of experience in designing intimate wear and managing research and development, Bull has led the development of various innovative technologies leading in the women’s intimate wear and sports bra industry, as well as engaged in the development of numerous signature products for its world-renowned intimate wear and sports brand partners. He is also the patent inventor of an accumulated total of 39 patents as of today.
Regina Miracle is a leading manufacturer in the global women’s intimate wear industry. As an advocate and practitioner of sustainable development, Regina Miracle actively manages the environmental and social impact of their manufacturing and operational activities.
The Brand Evolution Award was given to Commando and accepted by CEO, Founder, and Designer Kerry O’Brien.
Kerry has always done things differently. After a tenure working in financial public relations in New York City, Kerry shifted her efforts to her next chapter. Revolutionizing her top drawer. With no background in design, Kerry launched Commando in 2005 with the first seamless, elastic and trim-free undergarments. 20 years later, Commando has walked hundreds of red carpets and fashion runways, been featured on dozens of magazine covers … some infamously, and holds two patents for innovative design in hosiery and slips.
Commando founder, designer & CEO Kerry O’Brien founded the brand in 2005 with the mission of creating seamless underwear. Having no formal design background, her unique approach to the fashion industry has broken boundaries and revolutionized an industry. In 2012 Kerry was introduced into the CFDA, and Commando currently holds two patents for innovative design in hosiery and slips.
Today, the brand reaches far beyond her customer’s top drawer and into her closet with a full line of clothing! Her obsession with luxury technical fabrics and unique approach to design has positioned Commando as a trailblazer in the industry.
The Visionary Award was given to Mayur Vansia, who is currently a Director of Innovation at Victoria’s Secret.
An accomplished Design and Innovation Director at Victoria’s Secret and Company, Mayur Vansa has over 30 years of experience, and is known for his pioneering work in shape memory polymer and adhesive technology. With a career that began on the floors of a dye factory, Mayur has ascended to the forefront of intimate apparel innovation. He holds numerous patents in the field of product development for lingerie. He was an integral part of launching initiatives such as Body by Victoria Memory Technology, and the World’s First Nanofabric to name a few. Currently he is focusing on bio-based materials development and circularity.
The 2024 Student Design Contest featured works by Fashion Institute of Technology seniors and was themed “Creative Recycling for a Sustainable Fashion Future.” Take a look at the beautiful designs the now-graduates created, and click the links on their titles to see more about the inspiration behinds each design.
“Wilting Beauty” by Kea Oudom Seng won 1st place! This design was inspired by a dead flower that he saw while walking out of school, thinking of the seeds within that will become a new flower.
“Gothic Allure” by Peilin Cheng won 2nd place. She blended elements to evoke a sense of mystery and gothic feeling, pulling inspiration from architectural marvels such as the St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
“Self Obsession” by Jessica Wartman won 3rd place. This design was inspired by the feeling one gets when putting on a beautiful piece of lingerie.
“Princess Corset” by Daniel Bochkov drew inspiration from the look of a beautiful nightgown.
“Golden Hour” by Julia Rutherford was inspired by the few hours where the sun is streaming through your bedroom windows, lighting up the room with beautiful gold and orange notes.
“Powerful Sensuality” by Lisbeth Abreu embodies the essence of feeling good in your own skin — alluring and powerful.
Congratulations to the winners and participants! We hope to see each and every one of you thrive in your careers in the fashion and intimate apparel industries.
See photos from the 2024 Femmy Awards on our Facebook Album! Also, enjoy words of wisdom from Stan Herman and watch the awards ceremony on our YouTube Channel.
Please consider joining The Underfashion Club to have access to resources that will help those involved in the intimate apparel industry, all while supporting our mission to ensure the future of the intimate apparel business through education and cultivating and retaining talent!
