Fashion Week 2012: Fern Mallis Tries Her Hand At Design With New Accessory Line
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Some may know her for her years working behind the scenes at Fashion Week, but Fern Mallis is now jumping to the other side of the runway and giving design a shot. NY1’s Michelle Park got a sneak peak at Mallis’ new accessories collection.Fern Mallis is often referred to as the creator of New York Fashion Week, but now she's trying on a different hat—or necklace—and creating a collection of her own.
"It started because I travel a great deal, and I'm in India a lot and Asia and wonderful places and I'm an inveterate shopper," says Mallis.
Mallis has taken her experience shopping across the world and created an accessories collection with QVC called Fern Finds. that is wrought with influences from the Far East.
She says each piece is near and dear to her heart because they are inspired by her travels.
"What I love about these is that, to me, they are timeless. When you buy things on trips and you travel, they have a very special meaning to you, because every time you look at them you remember where you were, you remember what you saw, you remember your journey," says Mallis.
Mallis says when she's designing her jewelry it’s not just about the look—it’s also about the textures and the sound.
She says she wants to create pieces that everyone can wear in every season.
NY1 caught up with Mallis at the Dream Hotel Downtown, a place she sees as a crossroads of her love for New York and India.
"Dream Hotel is owned by Vikram Chatwal and his dad, and they’re Indian, and I’ve spent time with them India, so this just feels good. The India connection just comes out," says Mallis.
While Mallis says she had a blast coming up with her own accessory line, she wants to make sure that the designers know she's not trying to take their jobs.
“This is not called Fern Designs. I’m not trying to be a designer in their turf. I am a creative person and I always have been," says Mallis.
But she may be considering tapping into that creativity to branch out from accessories and try her hand at some ready-to-wear.
“I'll have to think about that," says Mallis.
Mallis' collection ranges in cost from $35-79 and debuts on QVC on February 10.