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New York,
NY (September 21, 2023) – Fashion 4 Development (F4D)
hosted its 11th Annual First Ladies
Luncheon on Tuesday, September 19th during the 78th
Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Evie Evangelou, F4D President and Founder co-hosted
with Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, who was
announced as F4D’s Goodwill Ambassador for Music. This
year’s luncheon honored the late Queen Elizabeth II in
partnership with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. The annual
luncheon is an opportunity for First Ladies and Royals from
around the globe, as well as diplomats, philanthropists,
fashion VIPs, and other key influencers to celebrate the
unprecedented cooperation between diplomacy and fashion.
The First
Ladies Luncheon began with green carpet arrivals and a
cocktail reception where guests had a chance to network and
mingle. Exhibitions from couture
fashion designer Stewart Parvin and milliner Rachel
Trevor-Morgan created
exclusively as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II were
showcased during the reception. Parvin worked with the Queen
for 20 years and his designs adorning the room were inspired
by what she would have worn during her reign. Recipient of
this year’s 2023 Franca Sozzani Award, Thebe Magugu, also
showcased his latest designs.
Over 32
first ladies were in attendance including First Lady of
Paraguay, First Lady of Serbia, First Lady of Albania,
Princess of Eswatini, First Lady of Ecuador, First Lady of
Malta, First Lady of Cabo Verde, First Lady of Israel, First
Lady of Colombia and more. Additional notable attendees
and honorees included Fern Mallis, Flaviana Matata, June
Ambrose, Chaz Dean, Julia Haart, Preeta Sinha, Jennifer
Hanks Allaire, Dr. Inez Hernandez, Aneeta Williams, Bonnie
Lautenberg, Monica Elias, Sergio Nicolosi, Amy Shiels,
Laine Siklos, Janna Bullock and Sofie
Mahlkvist.
When
everyone was seated, Evangelou welcomed all guests and
introduced the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Video
showcasing an initiative that launched in Buckingham Palace
and then graced the F4D Global Runway in New York City.
Following
this, Evangelou introduced Queen's Commonwealth Trust
representative and young entrepreneur from Zambia Alina
Karimamussama to speak about her experience advocating
for the global work of F4D and honoring the global
initiatives of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. “I'm
here alone on this stage, but when you see me, I want you to
see all the communities that are represented by the Queen's
Commonwealth Trust,” Karimamussama said to the crowd.
“I want you to see the thousands of women in Zambia who do
not have the comforts or luxuries to be on the stage with me
today.” The Queen’s Tribute
also spotlighted special
guests Freddie Toye of Toye, Kenning and Spencer
and Kate McGuire, British refashion designer who
has dressed Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex in the City. Onstage
they presented the Royal Silk Robe and Gown. The gown was
made from recycled fabrics from fast fashion lines and was
presented to guests at the Met Gala this past spring. “I
wanted to prove a point,” McGuire explained.
“We wanted to show people it's
possible to make couture out of old clothes, even fast
fashion…We are calling her “Elizabeth” and every year from
now on, she will attend Fashion 4 Development’s First Ladies
Luncheon and illustrate the different potentials of
upcycling.”
Internationally renowned Chef Anton
Mosimann, OBE, of Mosimann's private
members’ club in London,
known for his exceptional Cuisine
Naturelle attended via video from London. Having
cooked for four generations at the Royal House,
guests were treated to his signature dessert, Bread and
Butter pudding, one of the Queen's favorites and a special
Queen’s tribute menu was served to guests. The tables
featured couture hat centerpieces by Suzanne Couture
Millinery and a coffee table book of famed
photographer Enzo Barracco, and as a special treat,
guests were provided with the recipes for the desserts
served that afternoon.
The
annual luncheon is also dedicated to honoring those who
celebrate the unprecedented cooperation between diplomacy
and fashion around the world. Honorees included 2023 Franca
Sozzani Award winner, Johannesburg-based designer Thebe
Magugu. Sara Sozzani Maino introduced Magugu,
honoring him for preserving his South African heritage
through fashion and design. He
stated, “When I started my brand in 2016, its mission was to
act like an encyclopedia or a reference book of key ideas,
people, cultures that run the risk of being forgotten. I'm a
firm advocate in transcribing culture for modern
generations, otherwise, those histories or ideas, will meet
a dead end. I think that's what makes fashion so incredibly
important. It can inspire. It can inform. It can transform.”
Halfway through the luncheon, Emanne Beasha, a
finalist on season 14 of America’s Got Talent came on stage
to perform one of her signature songs,"
Quello Che Faro." She was introduced by Princess Corinna,
saying “Music, as we all know, is
a universal language that transcends all frontiers. It has
the power to uplift spirits, connect us across cultures, and
inspire positive change.”
Assembly member Rebecca Seawright introduced
philanthropist Jean Shafiroff and presented her with
the 2023 Philanthropy Award.
“We
must work together,” Shafiroff said. “Not just in our
countries, not just locally, but globally, because
sustainability is a global issue. It’s important for all of
us to be involved.” She continued, “We want future
generations to have the opportunity to live in a good world,
it's our obligation to work on a sustainable future by
creating long and short-term goals, incentives and rewards,
and a sense of team work together, this is all achievable
and doable.”
Stefano Curti
welcomed Carolin Westermann to the stage to accept
the 2023 F4D Award on behalf of
CEO of
Hugo Boss, Daniel Grieder. Virtually, Grieder
addressed the guests, stating “I
believe that it is our responsibility as an industry to take
care of our planet, the people that live in it and our
environment. If current global trends continue without
change, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by
2050. So, we must be bold for our planet because, as I like
to say, no planet, no fashion.”
Evangelou and Stephanie Dillon
also presented the launch of “Global Runway”, a book
they are co-authoring of storytelling, art and photography
that will showcase fashion designers from 193 countries,
whom are part of the UN helping to promote international
cooperation and understanding. Guests went home with a
physical copy of the first chapter, which spotlights Magugu.
“Thebe, for me, is our poster designer. He is what
epitomizes what we would like designers to be for the new
way of moving forward in the fashion industry,” Evangelou
said. In addition, “Global Runway” will premiere a fashion
runway show at the United Nations in 2024.
Following the global runway video, guests enjoyed a
live
fashion show paying homage to the past and future of F4D.
“Inspirations of the Ottoman Empire” by designer Mirela
Nurce of Tonni86 Couture.
Speakers throughout the afternoon included remarks by
Naila Chowdhury, the Director of Social Impact and
Innovation at UC San Diego, who was just announced as
F4D’s Goodwill Ambassador. As an advocate for human
rights, she said, “We are at the critical juncture where
climate, sustainability, gender equity, human rights,
dignity, and zero tolerance of any form of violence has
become imperative to address.”
To
conclude,
Stephanie Potter
presented
President
of S&P Global Market Intelligence Martina Cheung with
the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Award for her work with
improving pay transparency and female empowerment. “Increasing
female labor force participation and getting more women into
gender equity roles, increased pay transparency, all of this
contributes, and can contribute, trillions of dollars to
economic growth over the next decade,” said Cheung.
An
exclusive t-shirt collaboration designed by renowned artist
Stephanie Dillion and fashion industry veteran, Aslaug
Magnusdottir, Founder of Katla, officially launched at the
luncheon to help support F4D’s mission. The t-shirt serves
as a visual representation of the strength that arises when
artists and advocates unite for a common cause. T-shirts can
be purchased at
www.
Katla.com. |