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DIFFA Angels & Demons Gala Raises $400K, Honors NY Fashion Week Founder Fern Mallis
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DIFFA Angels & Demons Gala Raises $400K, Honors NY Fashion Week Founder Fern Mallis
Fern Mallis, R. Scott Bromley. DIFFA, Angels & Demons Gala honoring Fern Mallis, Mar. 19, 2026, St. John The Divine, NYC. Photo by Olia Mirra @mirrastudio
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A Lifetime Achievement Award for the New York Fashion Week founder Fern Mallis as Christian Siriano, Reem Acra, David Rockwell and Jamie Drake host a theatrical night of fashion and philanthropy
Fern Mallis was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) Angels & Demons Gala, a theatrical evening of fashion and philanthropy at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, raising more than $400,000 for HIV/AIDS care.
Hosted by Christian Siriano, Reem Acra, David Rockwell and Jamie Drake, the sold-out event drew 300 guests from across the fashion, design and philanthropic communities.
A longtime Southampton resident, Mallis was recognized for decades of leadership that have shaped both the global fashion industry and New York’s philanthropic landscape.
Best known as the founder of New York Fashion Week and former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Mallis also played a pivotal role in DIFFA’s earliest days as a founding board member. During the height of the AIDS crisis, she helped mobilize the design community—driving fundraising, awareness and industry-wide action at a critical moment.
Mallis’ continued involvement has supported DIFFA’s evolution into an organization addressing not only HIV/AIDS, but also housing insecurity, food access and mental health services.
Introduced by Kenneth Cole and architect Scott Bromley, Mallis received a standing ovation before reflecting on DIFFA’s origins and the urgency that defined its founding moment.
“Standing here tonight, I reflect on our journey together, starting as an original board member of DIFFA in 1984, at the very beginning of the AIDS crisis,” said Mallis. “I vividly remember how our community was desperate for answers, care and hope. It became clear that we had to do something. I honor all those who helped pave the way and the countless lives of those who loved and lost. Let us continue to lead with love, empathy, determination and creativity, until every person affected by HIV/AIDS receives the care and dignity they deserve.”
Founded in 1984, DIFFA has distributed more than $60 million to organizations providing healthcare, prevention and essential services in cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco.
Following the tribute, Siriano presented five gowns inspired by Grohe fixtures and the “transformative power of water,” staged in a runway moment that moved throughout the cathedral.
Guests then enjoyed a candlelit dinner surrounded by installations from Pratt Institute, the New York School of Interior Design and the School of Visual Arts.
The guest list reflected DIFFA’s reach across creative industries, including Tom Polucci; Maryanne Grisz; Stan Herman; Vanessa Deleon; Jane Hertzmark Hudis; and Lloyd Marks and Michael Tavano of Marks & Tavano Workroom.
Support for the gala included media sponsor Galerie, national sponsors Benjamin Moore and Mohawk, along with a broad network of leaders across architecture, design and interiors.
Photos by Olia Mirra @mirrastudio and Alberto Vasari
