ThoughtGallery.org > Fashion Mosaic: Immigrant Voices in NYC’s Fashion Industry

Fashion Mosaic: Immigrant Voices in NYC’s Fashion Industry

Join our unique panel of fashion, immigration and labor experts to address the historical relationship between immigrants and the city’s fashion industry, as well as the impact and influence of immigrants on local markets and designs. The panel will discuss the issues that immigrants face in integrating elements of their heritage into contemporary designs for the New York City and global markets and how these designers are responding to the needs of new immigrant populations.

Following the discussion, a small group of guest designers from the Custom Collaborative will be present their work and illustrate their creative journey with a selection of videos, sketches, fabrics, creative boards, models or clothing samples.

Moderator:

Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Bitta, a community organizer & immigrant and human rights advocate, graduated law school at DePaul University in Chicago. She has practiced civil rights law with a particular focus on the discriminatory impact of immigration practices on Muslim and Middle Eastern immigrants.

Panelists:

Marusya Kazakova (a.k.a. JAHNKOY) – a Russian-born multidisciplinary artist, craftivist and cultural fashion designer based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn – approaches fashion as a craftivist art practice and a platform for change. Her goal is restoring traditional craftsmanship and reviving global cultural heritage on the contemporary landscape. https://www.jahnkoy.com/.

Titina Penzini, Fashion consultant and contributing luxury editor to Bazsari Magazine, Marie Claire, OK and other fashion and lifestyle publications. Ms. Penzini is also a radio host, illustrator and author of 100% Chic, a series of books and columns. https://bit.ly/34kp9uk

Tessa Maffucci, Managing Director of Strategy at the Custom Collective – a New York City-based entrepreneurship and workforce development program that trains and supports women from low-income, immigrant communities to launch fashion careers and businesses. https://www.customcollaborative.org/

Nurhaizatul Jamil is an Assistant Professor in Global South Studies and the co-director of the Social Media Lab at Pratt Institute. Her current research projects are related to minorities, social media, immigration and pop culture shorturl.at/zFHJ3

Ngozi Okaro is as an advocate for socioeconomic justice. She aims to bridge gaps between constituencies: fashion-industry workers who want fair compensation, thoughtful consumers who want quality clothes, and the natural environment. https://www.customcollaborative.org/

Location: NYC Dept. of Records and Information Services 31 Chambers St, Room 111











When: Thu., Jan. 23, 2020 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Join our unique panel of fashion, immigration and labor experts to address the historical relationship between immigrants and the city’s fashion industry, as well as the impact and influence of immigrants on local markets and designs. The panel will discuss the issues that immigrants face in integrating elements of their heritage into contemporary designs for the New York City and global markets and how these designers are responding to the needs of new immigrant populations.

Following the discussion, a small group of guest designers from the Custom Collaborative will be present their work and illustrate their creative journey with a selection of videos, sketches, fabrics, creative boards, models or clothing samples.

Moderator:

Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Bitta, a community organizer & immigrant and human rights advocate, graduated law school at DePaul University in Chicago. She has practiced civil rights law with a particular focus on the discriminatory impact of immigration practices on Muslim and Middle Eastern immigrants.

Panelists:

Marusya Kazakova (a.k.a. JAHNKOY) – a Russian-born multidisciplinary artist, craftivist and cultural fashion designer based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn – approaches fashion as a craftivist art practice and a platform for change. Her goal is restoring traditional craftsmanship and reviving global cultural heritage on the contemporary landscape. https://www.jahnkoy.com/.

Titina Penzini, Fashion consultant and contributing luxury editor to Bazsari Magazine, Marie Claire, OK and other fashion and lifestyle publications. Ms. Penzini is also a radio host, illustrator and author of 100% Chic, a series of books and columns. https://bit.ly/34kp9uk

Tessa Maffucci, Managing Director of Strategy at the Custom Collective – a New York City-based entrepreneurship and workforce development program that trains and supports women from low-income, immigrant communities to launch fashion careers and businesses. https://www.customcollaborative.org/

Nurhaizatul Jamil is an Assistant Professor in Global South Studies and the co-director of the Social Media Lab at Pratt Institute. Her current research projects are related to minorities, social media, immigration and pop culture shorturl.at/zFHJ3

Ngozi Okaro is as an advocate for socioeconomic justice. She aims to bridge gaps between constituencies: fashion-industry workers who want fair compensation, thoughtful consumers who want quality clothes, and the natural environment. https://www.customcollaborative.org/

Location: NYC Dept. of Records and Information Services 31 Chambers St, Room 111

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