Fern Mallis, the fashion industry doyenne most recognized as the founder of New York Fashion Week, is making previously unreleased content on her digital platform Fashion Icons: The Archive, a playlist available on our 92Y YouTube. The Archive is the exclusive digital destination for Mallis’ popular — and often sold-out — conversation series, Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis.
This Summer in Fashion Icons: The CFDA Presidents
In this second release of conversations, Mallis curates talks with three fashion icons who work tirelessly behind the scenes — and in front of them — to keep the American fashion industry running: the current and former leaders of the CFDA.
“Having served as the Executive Director of the CFDA for 10 years, I know firsthand the many industry issues and complex problems these fashion icons have worked tirelessly to solve,” said Mallis. The three designers featured in this release are:
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Stan Herman (4 episodes starting May 24, 2021): “The one thing I keep telling everyone, you must have an alter ego. You must have somebody who takes the business aspect off of what you do. That's what young designers have to do today because it’s tough.”
Stan’s journey to become CFDA presidents was no easy feat, but Stan has never stepped away from a challenge. In fact, when he decided he was ready to take on the role of CFDA President, he had a harsh critic in Eleanor Lambert the group’s founder. She told him he “wasn’t to the manner born.” Stan has gone on to be the longest running president of the CFDA. Boy, did he prove her wrong!
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Diane Von Furstenberg (4 episodes starting June 14, 2021): “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew the woman I wanted to be, and I became that woman.’”
There are so many superlatives you can use to describe Diane: she is royalty, she is patron of the arts, she is a philanthropist, and she is a woman #InCharge. Let’s watch Diane share how her brand has evolved, from being all about a dress, to a deeper message: helping women become the women they want to be.
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Tom Ford (4 episodes starting June 28, 2021): “I think I willed my departure from Gucci… I had everything I’d wanted in my life. I had every material thing you could want. But yet, I was not happy.”
Tom’s evening at the 92Y was the hottest ticket in town. The sold-out crowd filled multiple auditoriums at the 92Y. Tom is a romantic and the ultimate seducer. In fact, he seduced the audience that night with his natural charm and movie-star good looks.
“The CFDA is the heartbeat of the fashion industry. Being its president or chairman is not a paid position. These fashion icons have demanding day jobs, designing and selling their own collections, but they nevertheless always make themselves available and give 100% to the greater fashion industry. We all owe them a debt of gratitude,” said Mallis.
“The content we’re featuring on 92Y’s YouTube channel is more than entertainment. It’s educational, it’s informative, and it’s timely for the challenges we’re all facing during this pandemic. 92Y is providing a much-needed escape and alternative to mindless binge-watching,” said Mallis. “I am thrilled that Fashion Icons: The Archive gets to be a part of this.”
Watch now, before these conversations go back into the vault at the end of July, 2021.
Follow Fern on Instagram for all the latest fashion icons news.