Any night spent at The Plaza is a special one, but Tuesday night's 45th American Image Awards was a particularly memorable affair. The annual event finally returned to real-life after two years of going virtual and the vibrant energy of a reunion could certainly be felt throughout the ballroom.

Hosted by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the glamorous gala and awards ceremony saw some of the fashion world's biggest names and faces stepping out to celebrate inspiring leaders, visionary brands, and inclusive initiatives throughout the industry.

Following a lively cocktail hour and red carpet moment, attendees made their way to dinner in the grand ballroom, where they settled in beneath the chandeliers for a moving ceremony to toast the night's honorees. AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar was on hand as were CFDA president CaSandra Diggs and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb, whose CFDA Foundation benefitted from the evening.

“The 2022 honorees are true visionaries, turning hard-learned lessons into new sources of strength to build a better industry and a better world,” Lamar said of this year's winners, who included Person of the Year Chip Bergh of Levi Strauss & Co., Company of the Year Gap Inc., Designer of the Year Prabal Gurung, Fashion Maverick ThirdLove, and Eco Steward of the Year, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Fashion Initiative.

Between champagne toasts and acceptance speeches, the night's emcee, Segun Oduolowu, kept the crowd laughing well into the evening.

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[Photos via Getty for AAFA]

Sonia Syngal, Stephen Lamar

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