About Us
industry’s largest Annual fundraising event
Fashion Accessories Benefit Ball (FABB)
FABB is the charity arm of the fashion accessories industry. How amazing is it that over 800 of the top Presidents, GMM’s, DMM’s and buyers, along with leading manufacturers in every classification of trade come together to support FABB in raising funds for charity. Our FABB community has unselfishly donated money to charities for the past 31 years.
The annual event is the platform for the industry to honor our brightest and best of the industry. Whether boardroom leaders, GMM’s or DMM’s who go the extra mile in their stores, our winners are all hugely talented. Beyond their focus in their work they hold a special bond with their communities and realize that giving back is among the most important and valuable thing an entrepreneur can do.
Awarding excellence in fashion manufacturing and design and retailers who have shown to be innovative leaders in their industry of fashion accessories are just two examples where we have had the opportunity to award such leaders in the industry as Macy’s, Hudson’s Bay, Bloomingdale’s, Belk, Target, Kohls, Nordstrom, Betsy Johnson and many others (see AWARD listings).
We also have the “FABB Hall of Fame Awards” where we award those key players in the industry that are leaders and innovators, selected by the vendor and retailing community for their exceptional retailing expertise and business/fashion acumen.
Join us on May 5th, 2020 at Pier Sixty NYC as we recognize people in our industry who are making a difference in our communities by moving the needle of giving and providing contributions that create change.
History
In 1990, Reenie Brown, then publisher of Accessories Magazine, had the idea for an industry charity event that would bring everyone together for a celebration to raise money for charities. And so, the Fashion Accessories Benefit Ball (FABB) was born.
The first FABB was held at the Hyatt at Grand Central. Expecting attendance of only 300 to 400 we were quite delighted to have ticket sales of over 650 people.
The event in year two moved to the Marriott Marquis where we stayed for the next 20 years before moving to Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. With attendance ranging to a high of 1800 to a steady of 800 per year, FABB has remained a mainstay in the accessories industry giving the May Market each year an anticipation of enthusiasm and excitement — FABB is the accessories industries only charity event attended by over 800 of the top Presidents, GMM’s DMM’s and buyers along with the leading manufactures in every classification.
To date we have raised over 15 million dollars for a long list of charities such as Save the Children, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Alzheimer’s Association, City Harvest, Coalition for the Homeless, Wounded Warriors, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and many more. (please check out our Charity section)
Each year awards are presented to both a retailer and wholesaler. Examples of past honorees include; Steve Madden, Kenneth Cole, Nine West, and retailers such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Nieman’s, Lord & Taylor, QVC and many more.
We also will be honoring DMM’s, GMM’s and buyers of the industry with awards that will recognize their leadership in philanthropy, collaboration and innovation and allows them to be recognized and acknowledged.