How was it growing up in Brooklyn? 

It was a perfect childhood in an era when mum was at home and dad took the bus and subway to work in Manhattan. We were in a small suburban home with a front and backyard. My best friends all lived across the street from me and we didn’t have a care in the world to worry about. Of course as we grew up I always had my eye on that other borough- Manhattan I knew eventually that was where I would want to go and none of my friends did. 

Did you have any mentors or anyone who you looked up to when you were younger? 

I looked up to my older sister who was a great artist and intellect, my parents were a great influence to me and also my bachelor uncle; Philip who always took me to great restaurants and taught me a great deal. 

If you could go back in time would you change anything? 

In the mid to late 70s and early 80s, which were very care free fun days most of my friends wound up being gay men- I had a career in fashion so it's not a surprise! Looking back I sometimes wish I didn't have so much fun with them and focused on meeting more straight eligible men, who would have become better prospects as husbands. I sometimes look back and regret not having been married...and having my own children so instead I've mothered thousands of young students, volunteers and interns- as well as three fabulous nieces.

Did you ever think you would establish yourself as well as you have?

I've only ever worked hard and tried to do the best job possible, and if that’s afforded me a level of success and notoriety that’s fine but that’s not what I ever expected or planned on.    

How did New York fashion week come about. what made you discover such an amazing milestone in the fashion industry? Without you fashion in New York would hardly be the same... 

New York Fashion Week was created because of an accident in 1991. When the music began to play at a Michael Kors fashion show the ceiling began to crumble over the runway and plaster landed on all the supermodels walking. Chunks of plaster landed in the laps of journalists such as Suzy Menkes ‘International Herald Tribune’ and Carrie Donovan ‘New York Times’ who subsequently wrote; “we live for fashion we don’t want to die from it”

Thus began my search to find safe, sound places close to the garment district in NYC where American fashion designers could conveniently present their collections, in an “organized, modernized, centralized” venue.

In fall of 1993 7^th on Sixth was launched in several tents in Bryant Park – where Fashion Week remained until February 2010.

While I spearheaded the concept and raised the necessary sponsorships to make it happen, it is a project that truly took a village to create. I’ll take credit for the platform but it’s the talent of the designers who participated, that have established this ground-breaking project in New York City.

What do you think the future holds for fashion?

I think the future for fashion is fairly healthy…all things considered. The luxury sector seems to be flourishing, always beyond anybody’s imagination.  I’m a little bit worried about the mass sector but people still need clothes and they still fulfill a practical and emotional need in people’s lives.

How would you say each of the capital fashion weeks differ? 

They differ based by virtue of where they are and the nature of each city, and cultures they exist in. NYFW is very practical and commercial. Paris is extremely creative and inventive. Milan is also very wearable and desirable. London is very edgy. And other FW around the world each reflects the creativity and cultural preferences of their respective countries. There’s room in the world for all of them.

Is there anywhere else in the world you would like to live besides NY?

Not at this moment but at a certain stage in my life I wouldn’t mind living in a beautiful villa in Tuscany, or a fabulous house in the Caribbean, or a new spectacular penthouse with terraces in Manhattan. Ultimately I’d love to live in all of them!

as the founder of New York fashion week, what made you become so heavily involved with the fashion world/industry?

I was always interested in clothing and fashion, I was exposed to it by my father and my uncles careers in the industry. It felt very comfortable for me.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?

Clearly my biggest accomplishment was creating fashion week in NY, which impacted and changed the entire fashion landscape for the industry, upfront and centre and helped make many designers careers.

What advice would you give to anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps or who looks up to you? 

The most important advice I give to everyone is to be nice, because that goes a VERY long way. There’s a job for everyone in the world and people like to work with nice people. That won’t be what only gets you the job, you need to work hard and know your “stuff”- absorb everything around you and participate in as many things as you can. You never know where an idea or concept will come from. The more things one goes to and attends, the more one knows to execute and produce.

What type of projects do you work on now? Can you give us some examples of current ventures to look out for and what you aim to achieve from then? 

I am currently working on a series of show at the 92Y in NYC called ‘Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis’, whereby I interview a designer every month in front of an audience. Each of these interviews will then be aired on my radio show ‘Fashion Insiders’ on SiriusXM’s Stars channel 107. I have a lot of other ventures that are yet to be confirmed. Another to look out for is my jewellery range being launched with QVC called ‘Fern’s Finds’, a collection of jewellery designed by myself inspired by my finds all over India and my travels.    

How would you describe your relationship with Fashion?   

Fashion and I get along just fine to a certain point. I love fashion, the business, the clothes but I am not an obsessed shopper. I do not spend $100,000s on my clothes, I hate parting with things but I also don’t have as many clothes as I’d like, as I don’t have the space to keep it.

What has been the most influential piece of advice anyone has ever given you? 

I can’t think of any specific advice that someone has ever given me that has guided my career. But my father always told us whilst growing up that “no two people should ever have to worry about the same thing” and he said “a bad idea put forth by a smart person is more likely to succeed, than a good idea put forth by a stupid person”- I kind of like that.

Who is your Idol?

I don’t have any particular idols but I had great admiration for someone like Geraldine Stutz who ran Henri Bendal in its hay day, and there are many other industry designers and leaders who I have great admiration for, but I stopped short of Idolry.

Introduction by Lucy Morris

Interviewed by Narine Teymoortian

Image credit: New York Diary and David S. Rubin