Fashion Group International’s 41st Gala Celebrates A Resilient Legacy

Fashion Group International [FGI] took to the Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Plaza as an epicenter for supporting style and influence for its 41st annual Night of the Stars Black-Tie Red Carpet Gala and Awards on Monday, October 20, 2025. The black-tie event and New York social and fashion calendar hallmark continued its legacy by gathering some of the industry’s most prominent figures for an evening dedicated to the 2025 theme, “Artists & Icons.” Against the Manhattan skyline, the gala celebrated visionary talent, with a critical fundraiser for FGI’s year-round professional development programs.

The evening was dedicated to honoring seven exceptional innovators who are shaping the future of fashion, beauty, media, and the arts. With opening remarks from global president and CEO Maryanne Grisz, the 2025 honorees included the technologically visionary designer Iris Van Herpen, who received the Fashion Visionary Award, presented by Law Roach and accompanied by Julia Fox, wearing a Van Herpen dress. The multifaceted and seven-time Tony Award winner Jordan Roth was celebrated with the Fashion x Art Award.

Additionally, the Media Award was presented to Stellene Volandes, while Sarah Wetenhall was recognized for her Leadership in Luxury Lifestyle, with her awardeMartha Stewart. Away co-founder Jen Rubio was also awarded as a Retail Trailblazer, Kerry O’Brien was bestowed with the prestigious FGI Founders’ Award, and Aïda Moudachirou-Rébois received the Changemaker Award for her impactful work.

The night celebrated the legacy from these extraordinary individuals, with Kerry O’Brien’s FGI Founders’ Award acceptance speech demonstrating her testament to legacy, built on resilience and uncompromised quality. As she accepted the Founders’ Award in Commando’s 20th year as a fine underwear brand, she reflected on the humble beginnings that were less refined, but earnest and authentic.

“Looking back over the last 20 years, I have a few memories to share,” O’Brien prompted. “It starts with my very first market appointment with Bergdorf Goodman. I walked into that iconic office, opened my Ziploc bag, placed four pieces of underwear on the table… and after about a minute, I proudly announced, ‘I’m ready.'”

This story is more of a foundational pillar of Commando’s legacy and tenure in fashion. The team at the century-old Bergdorf Goodman “saw past the Ziploc,” she mentioned of the Ziploc plastic bag she unveiled her underwear samples in, and they recognized her revolutionary product.

O’Brien’s “refusal to compromise,” she noted, forged a partnership that endures to this day. Her legacy is also woven into the fabric of fashion. She explains how evolving from providing “invisible foundations” on runways to creating “very visible” custom pieces has entrusted her brand to the industry’s most creative minds.

Most importantly, O’Brien underscored that legacy is a collective effort. “A dream like this is never built alone,” she stated, paying tribute to her team and her husband, acknowledging the partnerships as foundational to her legacy.

With the mantra of creating a ‘safe space’ for all, global chief marketing officer at MAC Cosmetics, Aïda Moudachirou-Rébois channeled corporate power for cultural change within the fashion and beauty industries. During her acceptance of the Changemaker Award, she highlighted how personal history and professional mission can merge to create a powerful force for access and inclusion.

“For me, it’s truly a pinch-me moment,” Moudachirou-Rébois shared. “I was born and raised in Western Africa, so being here at an event for an organization that stands for access, innovation, and creativity is very deep.”

Moudachirou-Rébois’ personal journey has directly informed her work and the legacy she is building at MAC Cosmetics. With that, she articulated further, “Access, creativity, and innovation are what we stand for at MAC Cosmetics,” she detailed. “We really believe that makeup is an art form, and that art is accessible to everybody. We believe that everybody needs the platform and deserves to be heard.”

Her vision of legacy is to “hold the space,” as she put it, “for all voices to thrive and shine.” Her work has acted as a feedback loop of what she can enable others to do. Moudachirou-Rébois concluded that collaboration was her underlying message. “Thank you for believing that change actually happens when we all believe that we can make a difference together.”

The very foundation of FGI, as highlighted by President and CEO Maryanne Grisz, is a legacy project. Previously, celebrated at the 2024 award winners, a range of fashion and culture shapers were honored for their work. This included Heidi, Marc, and Dixie D’Amelio, Reed Krakoff, Fern Mallis, and Max Mara. The FGI awards series has always delved into the true essence of what it takes to thrive in the fashion industry. The presentation of the Fashion Vanguard Award to designer LaQuan Smith by his longtime friend and business partner, Jacqueline Cooper, was a heartfelt speech celebrating their shared history and his remarkable journey that built the brand name.

Beyond the glamour and recognition, the Night of the Stars gala has a profound and purposeful mission. All proceeds from the evening directly benefit The Fashion Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of FGI, supporting its mission of nurturing the next generation of talent.

Founded in 1930 by seventeen pioneering women, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Elizabeth Arden, FGI’s enduring mission is to connect and uplift professionals across the global fashion landscape. The funds raised support vital initiatives, including the Rising Star Grants Fund, comprehensive mentorship programs, the Ruben and Isabel Toledo Scholarship at FIT, and numerous other educational grants and career resources for emerging professionals.

The award ceremony has become a nexus of the fashion industry’s established icons, artists, and changemakers of today, to gather in efforts of mentorship and continued opportunity for the next generations. Fashion Global International has built its own legacy and upholds those who are resilient enough to break through a Ziploc bag of samples, remembering where they came from while holding space for others.