Fern Mallis has been called many things including an industry titan, a living legend, a trailblazer, a global fashion ambassador, a visionary, a maverick, a fashion revolutionary, an icon, an indomitable force and an industry gamechanger. She’s selfless and fearless, she’s fashion’s ultimate insider and she’s widely recognized as the godmother of New York Fashion Week. Her career spans six decades and intersects with some of the world’s most recognized names. She became a sensation in the fashion industry shortly after she was hired as the executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). She held the position for 10 years, from 1991 to 2001. The CFDA is the US’s governing body of fashion designers and runway shows. Fern’s massive claim to fame while serving at the CFDA was launching New York Fashion Week, which was initially called “7th on Sixth” productions. At the time, there were fashion weeks strictly in Paris, London and Milan. The fashion week event she created was staged in NY twice a year, in Feb. & Sept., and it was located in tents within Bryant Park in NYC. In 2010, the event was moved to Lincoln Center. Fern is the latest inductee in the Kent State University’s Fashion Hall of Fame, recognizing her transformative impact on the American fashion industry and her enduring role in shaping New York Fashion Week. She truly changed the trajectory of the fashion industry. The Kent State School of Fashion’s Hall of Fame honors individuals whose contributions have shaped the industry and inspired future generations of designers, entrepreneurs and creative leaders. She joins other industry figures who have been inducted including Kenneth Cole, Estée Lauder, Oscar de la Rena, Dana Buchman, Leonardo Ferragamo, Josie Natori, Dame Zandra Rhodes and Donald J. Pliner. While at the CFDA, Fern organized 10 annual CFDA Fashion Awards Galas. She also played a leadership role in starting the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign which has generated well over $100 million in donations for hundreds of breast cancer organizations worldwide. She also twice organized the “7th on Sale” fundraiser for AIDS charities which grossed more than $8 million. Additionally, she helped raise considerable money for design scholarships and numerous other initiatives to benefit designers and the industry at large. In 2001, she was hired as the senior vice president of IMG Fashion, a division within IMG, which is a sports, fashion, events and media company headquartered in NYC. Between 2001 and 2010, she continued to handle fashion week since IMG had acquired it. She became a true fashion ambassador, traveling around the world to fashion shows and competitions. Under her guidance, IMG added new fashion weeks around the world in cities like Melbourne, Sidney, Moscow, Mumbai, Toronto, Mexico City and Berlin, among others. In 2010, she parted ways with IMG and shifted gears to became president of Fern Mallis LLC, her own international fashion and design consultancy. She has regularly been in the public eye for the past 15 years for hosting a premiere, consistently sold-out conversation series at the prestigious 92nd Street Y in NYC. Entitled Fashion Icons With Fern Mallis, it features in-depth interviews with an incredible collection of guests. It’s the longest running series at the 92nd St. Y and she’s conducted more than 60 interviews. She's also the author of two companion books of the series, published by Rizzoli USA. In 2015, the highly praised coffee table style book Fashion Lives: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis. More about Fern will be revealed in an upcoming 90-minute documentary film titled, “The Godmother of Fashion.” Please visit TalkingToTalent.com for additional details.
