LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT MR HONOREES FOR 2025, PART TWO

Here’s another sneak peek at what to expect from some of the MR Awards 2025 honorees who will be profiled in our July issue.

Luxury Brand Of The Year
Antonio Paone, U.S. President
KITON

• Before joining the family business, he sold jewelry (He is company founder Ciro Paone’s nephew).
• When he started with the company, he was his uncle’s driver.
• He is also the founder of Sartorio Napoli, a brand that is “part of the Kiton family,” adding another layer of handmade tradition and luxury.
• He is a huge soccer fan, and often attends matches with his son and his son’s friends.
• Kiton has a tailoring school at its Naples factory, which supplies the company and the surrounding region with trained, often second-generation tailors.

Heritage Award
Ken Ohashi, CEO
BROOKS BROTHERS

• He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hofstra’s Zarb School of Business and is also a CPA.
• Keeps a Brooks Brothers antique bento box in his office.
• Starts every work day with a call to Louis Amendola, his Chief Merchandising Officer
• Keeps his tasks organized with the Evernote app, but prefers to take notes by hand.
• He is also the CEO of Eddie Bauer

Fashion Futurist
Jian Deleon, Men’s Fashion Director
NORDSTROM

• Started his career at online lifestyle magazine Valet
• He once worked at the Urban Outfitters store in Georgetown
• In 2022, he may have created the “hot dog as a straw trend (Genius!)
• Founded the Muleboyz project with colleague Noah Thomas (Associate Fashion Director Men’s & Kids, Macy’s), promoting the heel-less footwear style.
• He may not be the biggest fan of Movember.

In Memoriam: People’s Choice
Raffi Shaya, Cofounder
RAFFI

• He started out as a neckwear designer
• Imported the French underwear line Hom to Israel, and then brought it to the U.S.
• Fiji was Raffi and his wife Arlette’s first wholly-owned brand
• A secret bed hidden in the cabinetry behind his desk in the West 55th Street showroom was the perfect size to stash napping grandchildren.
• His wise words live on in a series of 21 hangtags, from “Every Day is a Birthday,” to “Keep Your Life Quality.” (Who thought hangtags would be come collectibles?)

The Legend Award
Karen Alberg Grossman, Editor-in-Chief & Cofounder
MR MAGAZINE

• A French Education major, she graduated from Syracuse University a semester early and then moved to Paris for two years
• She worked summers at Bambergers (glove counter, pantyhose counter—”not much traffic in those departments during the summer!”)
• Her first editorial job was at Retail Week magazine
• She saw Charles Aznavour perform his final concert at Radio City Hall (and still listens to his music, in French, of course)
• Her favorite cocktail is a Jack and Ginger. (I’ll drink to that!)

THE MR AWARDS | JULY 21, 2025 | GOTHAM HALL NYC
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
LIZETTE.CHIN@WAINSCOTMEDIA.COM or
CHARLES.GARONE@WAINSCOTMEDIA.COM