US Ambassador Somers Farkas welcomed Fern Mallis, the award-winning fashion industry pioneer known worldwide as the "Godmother of Fashion" and creator of New York Fashion Week, during her visit to Malta from 3rd to 7th July as part of the Embassy’s Freedom 250 celebrations.

Ms Mallis participated in Malta Fashion Week, met with local business leaders, and engaged with emerging Maltese designers and students to highlight how creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship drive global industries.

“Fern Mallis represents the American visionary spirit,” said Ambassador Farkas. “Her vision helped transform American fashion into a global economic and cultural force, proving that creativity and entrepreneurship create opportunity. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary through Freedom 250, we are proud to introduce excellence and bring leaders like Fern to Malta to strengthen the commercial and cultural ties between our two countries. I offer my sincere thanks The Phoenicia Malta and Malta Fashion Week for their outstanding partnership and collaboration in making this visit possible.”

Ms Mallis served as Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) from 1991 to 2001, where she played a defining role in elevating American fashion on the world stage. Following a runway incident in which a ceiling collapsed during a fashion show, Ms Mallis famously remarked, “I think my job description just changed,” and set out to transform the industry by bringing together designers, corporate partners, buyers, and media in a unified platform.

Her vision led to the creation of New York Fashion Week, officially launched in September 1993 at Bryant Park New York City. What began as a centralised showcase for American designers grew into one of the world’s premier fashion events, generating an estimated $2 billion in economic impact to New York alone and demonstrating how American creativity, business leadership, and innovation can build global opportunities.

Throughout her career, Ms Mallis has championed emerging talent, strengthened American design on the international stage, and shown how fashion can be both a creative and economic engine, so much so the fashion and apparel industry is a global trillion-dollar industry. She has also used her platform to support important causes, helping raise millions of dollars for health and humanitarian initiatives, including AIDS research, breast cancer awareness through Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, and women’s heart health through the Red Dress “Heart Truth” Campaign.

During her visit to Malta, Ms Mallis shared her decades of expertise with Maltese designers, students, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals, offering insights into building global brands, large-scale event production, and the business of fashion. She emphasised the power of “being nice” to colleagues and even competitors in this highly competitive industry. She also met with local business leaders, helping identify new opportunities for collaboration and stronger commercial ties between Malta and the United States.

Ambassador Farkas expressed special appreciation to The Phoenicia Malta, including Robyn Pratt and Christine Darmanin, for their support in hosting Ms Mallis and making the visit possible, and to Adrian Mizzi, Founder and Executive Producer of Malta Fashion Week and Awards, and his team for creating a world-class platform that celebrates creativity, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration.

On her visit to Malta, Ms Mallis said, “Malta has a remarkable creative energy, and I was inspired by the designers, students, and business leaders I had the opportunity to meet. Fashion thrives on collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship – all of which were on full display in Malta’s vibrant fashion community firsthand. I can’t wait to come back!”