4 Excellence Award Nominees
Licensing International 2024 Nominees
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Best Brand: Art, Design, or Museum
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (FLWF) works to advance Wright’s design legacy and expose new audiences to the innovation it inherently drives. The Foundation encourages licensees to analyze and interpret Wright’s philosophies to help them think differently about design today and tomorrow. FLWF works closely with licensees to incorporate Wright’s archival materials and design principles. Licensed products demonstrate Wright’s revolutionary American style of architecture, beginning with the careful selection of materials down to the meticulous construction of every detail. The Foundation’s program has enjoyed steady growth, aligning with high-profile partners, including a home furnishings line with Steelcase, a limited-edition sneaker collaboration with New Balance sold through Kith, an exquisite tea collection by Tea Forte, and a jewelry collection with partner Maya Brenner, which built upon Wright’s “organic commandments.” Royalties from sales of licensed products support FLWF’s mission of inspiring people to live through meaningful connections to nature, the arts, and each other.
The New York Botanical Garden
Best Brand: Art, Design, or Museum
NYBG brand partners join in the mission to help people discover beauty, knowledge, and wellbeing in the natural world. The licensing program—enriched by NYBG’s extraordinary heritage, beautiful living collections, and one-of-a-kind archival botanical artwork collection—offers a unique opportunity to align with NYBG in supporting their mission to educate, study, and preserve nature. This flourishing program continues to experience significant growth globally. Licensed in 15 countries across four continents, NYBG had its most successful year in 2023, with royalties growing 37%. The program bloomed thanks to significant growth in Asia, including multiple apparel, accessory, and beauty programs in Japan and Korea, as well as steady growth in the U.S. in fashion, bath and body, fragrance, tea, chocolate, home textiles, stationery, and gift and florals. Prestigious partners include Frontgate, Tea Forte, New Era, Rizzoli, Penguin Random House, and LeSportsac. Products are complemented by cause-related messaging that resonates deeply with many audiences.
National Wildlife Foundation
Best Sustainability Initiative: The Landmark Project – National Wildlife Foundation
The Landmark Project proudly partnered with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to launch a sustainable collection of graphic tees, sweatshirts, headwear, and accessories that reintroduces a beloved childhood hero, Ranger Rick. This heartwarming collection celebrates a legacy of conservancy and kindles the enduring spirit of wonderment for our natural world. Founded on a shared commitment to environmental preservation, The Landmark Project crafts products that spark appreciation for America’s natural wonders. NWF works to ensure all wildlife, people, and ecosystems thrive through education and empowerment to champion wildlife conservation and protect our Earth. The Landmark Project captured the sense of wonder and purpose with their new collection, helping NWF to build on their legacy of wildlife and environmental conservation. With each purchase from this collection, The Landmark Project returns a portion of the proceeds to NWF, directly contributing to their vital environmental and conservation initiatives.
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Best Collaboration – Softlines: Frank Lloyd Wright x New Balance x Kith
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Kith collaborated on a limited-edition partnership, promoting the Foundation’s mission to inspire an intentional approach to better living through connections to art, nature, and community. Kith launched the Ronnie Fieg & Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation for New Balance Made in USA 998 – Broadacre City shoe, celebrating Wright’s architectural sketches and models of his futuristic concept, Broadacre City. The shoe was offered in two colorways—creamy white alongside earthy red, apricot, and olive green—all pulled from Broadacre City. The model released exclusively in-app and in-store at Kith Tokyo, where Kith founder Ronnie Fieg signed pairs for the first 25 customers. The second release followed the next day at a pop-up in Taliesin West, the Foundation’s Arizona headquarters. The collection, which sold out immediately, was featured in Fast Company and Architectural Digest.