GODMOTHER OF FASHION
Fern Mallis
Fern Mallis is an award-winning fashion industry legend, often hailed as the "Godmother of Fashion" and a “Fashion Doyenne”. As the visionary creator of New York Fashion Week, she transformed the global fashion landscape, setting the standard for fashion weeks worldwide.
With decades of influential leadership at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and IMG Fashion, Mallis has shaped the careers of countless designers and revolutionized the industry’s approach to branding, marketing, and large-scale event production.
THE CREATOR OF NYFW
Fern Mallis served as the Executive Director of the CFDA from 1991 through 2001, playing a pivotal role in shaping the organization and elevating American fashion on a global scale. Following a runway show where the ceiling crumbled onto guests, Fern said, "I think my job description just changed". It was in this pivotal moment that Fern Mallis galvanized the American design community, securing corporate sponsorships and merging the worlds of commerce and creativity for the first time on a large scale in fashion history.
New York Fashion Week was officially launched in September 1999 at Bryant Park, helping to put American fashion firmly on the global map. Fashion Week began with just two tents and the New York Public Library, offering a platform for American designers to present their collections to international media and retailers. Over time, the tents evolved to host more than 70 collections biannually, transforming Fashion Week into a dynamic, citywide hub for fashion.
During her tenure at the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Fern Mallis rallied the fashion industry around large-scale philanthropic efforts that bridged creativity with social impact. She spearheaded ten CFDA Awards Galas, launched a scholarship program to support emerging designers, and organized two “7th on Sale” benefits that collectively raised $8 million for AIDS research.
Mallis also collaborated with Ralph Lauren on Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, pioneering a licensing model that expanded the FTBC campaign across the global fashion industry and ultimately generated over $100 million for breast cancer organizations worldwide. The initiative was launched with a press conference and reception at the White House, with First Lady Hillary Clinton serving as honorary chair.
She further played a key role in the creation of the Red Dress “Heart Truth” Campaign, bringing national attention to women’s heart disease and securing First Lady Laura Bush’s attendance at the Red Dress show in the tents for three consecutive years.
Awards
Mallis is the recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades recognizing her outstanding contributions to fashion. Mallis's most recent industry awards include the In 2024 alone, she received the Fashion Legacy Award from the Fashion Chamber of Commerce, the Founders Award from Fashion Group International, the ACE Hall of Fame Award, and the Making the Difference Award from Giving Glam. In 2023, she was honored with the Legend in the Fight Against AIDS Award from DIFFA Dallas, following her 2022 recognition as the Icon of Innovation by Fashion Group International.
Senior VP of IMG
Following a decade at the CFDA, Mallis joined IMG company serving as Senior Vice President from 2001 to 2010, when IMG acquired 7th on 6th (NYFW). In this role, Mallis was instrumental in scaling fashion week into a global framework, expanding its international footprint, advising emerging fashion capitals, and establishing new market-specific fashion week models. Under her leadership, IMG extended its reach beyond New York, launching Miami Swim Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, and international fashion weeks in India (Lakme Fashion Week), Berlin (Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week), Moscow, Australia (AFI), and Toronto. Mallis served as a global ambassador, traveling internationally to cities such as Dubai, Singapore, and Tokyo, consulting with regional teams to help develop their own fashion week infrastructures. IMG's mission was to create a worldwide network of fashion weeks by leveraging sponsorships, activations, and designer integrations. After ten years at IMG, as New York Fashion Week moved from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center, Mallis was ready for a new chapter of her life establishing her consulting business.
%20(1).png)
Advisory Boards
Board and Advisory Leadership
Guiding The Next Generation of Fashion
Fern’s leadership extends beyond consulting and media appearances. Her strategic insight and visionary guidance are sought by leading institutions, emerging companies, and global initiatives, reinforcing her reputation as a trusted authority and mentor in fashion and sustainability.
.png)
Shop Re-Purpose
Advisory Board
DIFFA
Founding Board Member
FIT Foundation
Board of Directors
Panthera Conservation
Advisory Board
Her previous honors include the Fashion Maverick Award from the American Apparel and Footwear Association, the Woman of the Year Leadership Award from Concern Worldwide, the State of Style Fashion Legacy Award from the Fashion Chamber of Commerce, the Special Award from Diversity Affluence, and the Leadership Award from the Fashion Center BID, among others. She was honored by the Pratt Institute with its 2012 Fashion Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to her by designer Calvin Klein. In May 2013, she was presented with the rare and highly esteemed Fashion Institute of Technology President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, delivering the keynote commencement address. She’s been featured in the BoF (Business of Fashion) 500: The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry, and in 2014 was inducted into the first BoF 500 Hall of Fame.
CaringKind — Connect2Vision and Culture Award (2025),Giving Glam — Making the Difference Award (2024),Fashion Group International — Founders Award (2024),Delivering Good — Impact Speaker Award (2024), Fashion Chamber of Commerce — State of Style Fashion Legacy Award (2024), ACE — Hall of Fame Award (2024), Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation — Fashion Cares Award (2023),DIFFA Dallas — Legend in the Fight Against AIDS Award (2023)