Fashion maven to headline Women’s Philanthropy event
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Fashion maven to headline Women’s Philanthropy event

Women who come to the Main Event of the Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County on Thursday, May 10, will be treated to an insider’s peek at the high-powered world of women’s fashion.

Fern Mallis — the woman credited with creating New York Fashion Week — will be the featured speaker at the annual event, to be held this year at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in North Brunswick. She will also share insights about Jewish women in the garment industry.

The woman who oversaw the tents and media swirl at the Fashion Week shows in Manhattan for 17 years now runs a fashion consulting firm; has a show, Fashion Insiders with Fern Mallis, on Sirius XM Radio; and has put out a new line of jewelry being sold on QVC.

This month Calvin Klein presented the former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America with a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the Pratt Institute. Mallis has even tried her hand at stage work, appearing for two weeks in January in the Off-Broadway hit Love, Loss, and What I Wore.

“We’re excited to have her,” said event cochair Lisa Kaplan of East Brunswick. “She is a self-made woman who still finds time to speak at Jewish events. She is the perfect example for all women about being successful, yet keeping strong ties to the Jewish community.”

The event will begin by giving women a taste of the fashion Mallis will speak about as they browse through a vendors’ marketplace during the cocktail hour preceding the dinner.

The Main Event aims to build a spirit of camaraderie among women who share strong ties and a commitment to the goals of federation in helping Jews locally, in Israel, and around the world. Last year’s event drew 170 attendees, an increase of 20 from the previous year,” said Audrey Napchen, director of Women’s Philanthropy.

“Together we can build a world of good because it takes a community to build a community,” said cochair Wendy Friedman of East Brunswick. “If not now, when? And if we don’t do for each other, who will do it for us? Personally, I truly believe this is something each of us needs to do for our fellow Jews.”

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