Twice a year, fashion designers converge in Manhattan for a weeklong display of what's new in wardrobe. But it was not always this way. We have the woman who has been dubbed the 鈥済odmother of fashion鈥� to thank for this, Fern Mallis, who is being inducted into the Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame this week.
Mallis is famous for creating New York Fashion Week, with its predecessor event, "7th on Sixth," and getting fashion designers to collaborate and show up in the same space at a time when that was unheard of.
Mallis was the Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America from 1991 to 2001, later serving as Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion.
She has interviewed the greats as host of the "Fashion Icons" series at the 92nd Street Y such as Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Valentino and Diane von F眉rstenberg. Now, the 鈥淪ound of Ideas鈥� gets to ask her the questions.
Mallis will be speaking about her career and the fashion industry in general at the on Friday, May 1 at 11 A.M in the university's Rockwell Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Guest:
- Fern Mallis, 2026 Inductee, Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame
