The Art of American Design

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we are thinking about one of this country’s most enduring strengths: its extraordinary capacity for creativity.

American design has never been defined by a single point of view or tradition. Its strength is precisely the opposite. It is bold and restrained, polished and rebellious, practical and fantastical. It reflects countless backgrounds, experiences and ideas, brought together by a shared desire to create something new.

For this special portfolio, Ac Magazine turns its lens on members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a remarkable cross-section of American design talent. The images that follow move effortlessly from clothing to jewelry, footwear, handbags, and eyewear, reflecting the breadth of creativity thriving in this country.

At the Accessories Council, we have long had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary community of designers, makers, entrepreneurs and brands. We know firsthand that American talent runs deep. It can be found in global fashion houses and independent studios, in heritage companies and emerging businesses, and in the hands of established names as well as those just beginning to make their mark.

That vast creative community is something worth celebrating.

Model Ashley Karah sits on a white cylindrical stool, wearing a sparkling silver sequin dress and yellow floral high-heeled sandals. She poses with one arm resting across her knee against a light gray studio background. Text in the upper right reads, “LIBBY EDELMAN & SAM EDELMAN for SAM EDELMAN.”

Two geometrical bags stacked together, by Rafe New York.

Model Almina Samtonova in a flowing cream-and-beige pleated dress with dramatic black fringe trim, holding a structured brown clutch and wearing red sneakers. Text at the bottom reads “STUART VEVERS for COACH.”

In this section, we salute the ingenuity, individuality, craftsmanship and imagination that continue to shape American design — and the many talented people, including those featured on the following pages, who keep pushing it forward.

Here’s to what America creates next.

See the full portfolio or explore the entire Fall 2026 Issue.

Photographed by Andrew Egan, Fashion Editor Nathalie Agussol, Hair & Make Up by Rodrigo Salles, Modeled by Ashley Karah, Almina Samtonova, Daija Jones, and Ana Payano at the Industry NY.