Second Annual Contest Supported by the edCFDA Celebrates Port Tanger, the Emerging Eyewear Brand that will be Introduced to the Vision Care Community at Vision Expo East 2022, March 31-April 3 at the Javits Center in New York City
Alexandria, VA – February, 3 2022 – The organizers of Vision Expo, The Vision Council and RX, are pleased to announce the winner of the Vision Expo Global Talent Search, supported by the eyewear designers of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (edCFDA). Port Tanger is the recipient of the award, which aims to identify and support emerging designers and promote their talent to the vision community. The contest first launched in 2020 and recognized Morganne Leigh, founder of Tyche + Iset Eyewear, and Judge Khanna, creative director and co-founder of SpiltMilk.
“The seven edCFDA designers and judges have gathered and are collectively proud to announce the independent eyewear brand Port Tanger as the recipient of the 2022 Vision Expo Global Talent Search Award,” said Christian Roth, one of the seven eyewear designers of the edCFDA who judged the contest. “This year’s award has a very special meaning to us. Despite the uncertainty and challenges of the past two years, this skillful design team has had the courage and resources to pursue their dreams while navigating the pandemic with creativity and brilliance.”
Inspired by the Moroccan city of Tangier, Port Tanger is a luxury eyewear brand that embodies and celebrates the city’s DNA and vibrant lifestyle. The name “Port Tanger” is a nod to how the city of Tangier serves as both the gateway to Africa and the portal to Europe. Port Tanger’s frames celebrate the international culture and Mediterranean vibrance of Tangier through evocative designs, premium quality, and luxurious flair. The eyewear brand is currently carried by 43 retailers worldwide, including Assembly New York, Atelier Mira, Kith, Atelier Mira, Selima Optique and Ssense, among others.
“I come from a production background, and I fell in love with eyewear in my early twenties and I started to collect before giving life to a few ideas,” said Bilal Fellah, one of Port Tanger’s owners and designers. “We are a team of four and one cannot take all the credit, though. We work with many different talents and Port Tanger is a true collective. Only with the help of my business partner was I able to create what Port Tanger is today. Our goal is to embrace our culture and heritage through our eyewear. We are pleased to receive this award and continue our vision.”
Port Tanger will be introduced to the eyewear community at Vision Expo East 2022 during a celebratory event hosted by the edCFDA and Show organizers. The event will take place on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 5 p.m. in The Atelier, Vision Expo’s new neighborhood for brands with unique, ownable culture and respected industry position. Port Tanger will also receive a complimentary booth at Vision Expo East 2022 in The Springs, Vision Expo’s neighborhood dedicated to emerging designers.
New to the competition, the winner of the Global Talent Search will also receive a free placement on several online marketplaces, including Vision Expo’s ShopVISION platform, the global business-to-business digital sourcing platform for the vision care community.
To be eligible for consideration, designers were required to have businesses established after January 1, 2018, with annual sales equal to one million or less, as well as press and social media support.
The winners were selected by a panel of seven eyewear designers from the edCFDA. Judges included:
- Christian Roth, Designer and Co-Founder of Christian Roth Eyewear and Optical Affairs
- Jeff Press, Chief Creative Officer for Morgenthal Frederics
- Gai Gherardi, Co-Founder and Co-Designer of l.a. Eyeworks
- Patty Perreira, Co-Founder of Barton Perreira
- Selima Salaun, Owner of Selima Optique
- Shane Baum, President of Baumvision, Founder and Designer of Leisure Society
- Blake Kuwahara, Founder and Creative Director of FOCUS GROUP WEST
For more information on the Vision Expo Global Talent Search, click here.
Vision Expo East 2022 will take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City from March 31 - April 3, 2022. The Show’s educational program, together with OptiCon®@Vision Expo, will open Thursday, March 31 and the Exhibit Hall will open Friday, April 1. To register, click here.
For more information on Vision Expo, visit visionexpo.com and follow Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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About Vision Expo
Vision Expo East and West are trade-only conferences and exhibitions for eyecare and eyewear presented by co-owners RX and The Vision Council. Vision Expo is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, where eyecare meets eyewear, and education, fashion and innovation mingle. In the Vision Expo Exhibit Hall, eyecare providers can discover trends, interact with new technologies and access innovative products and services. The Vision Expo education program is driven by the profession, offering content of the highest quality and relevance to enhance overall patient care. For more information, visit VisionExpo.com and follow Vision Expo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About The Vision Council
As the vision care leader in enabling better vision for better lives, The Vision Council positions its members for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through education, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and industry forums.
About RX
RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities and organisations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 400 events in 22 countries across 43 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.rxglobal.com
About the edCFDA
The eyewear-specific designers within the Council of Fashion Designers of America (www.CFDA.com) are known collectively as the edCFDA. This sub-group of the CFDA’s membership aims to inspire, empower and promote awareness of eyewear design and the vitality of the optical industry through promotion, education, mentoring and collaborative initiatives.