It was a Zoom session not to be missed last Thursday when Fashion Group International hosted the ever-engaging Simon Doonan interviewing fashion icon Fern Mallis about her illustrious career in fashion and fundraising.
Fern is most proud of the fundraising component of her work, both at DIFFA and at CDFA (Council for Fashion Designers of America), where, as newly elected executive director, she first raised $5 million from a tiny office at 1412 Broadway. “I had little confidence in my ability to raise money but so many of my friends at that time were literally dying so it was easy to ask. I started out calling Anna Wintour; she asked how much and, having no idea, I said half a million. She said let me talk to Si (Newhouse), who came up with $100,000. Once I had that, I managed to get donations from Bazaar, Elle, Town & Country, then Clairol and Estee Lauder. It was a truly exciting time.”
