Fashion 4 Development hosts Second Annual Sustainable Goals Banquet and Luncheon

Photo Credits: Society & Diplomatic Review

The 2nd Annual Sustainable Goals Banquet was held on Monday, September 19th at the elegant 583 Park Avenue event space. The event was attended by UN Ambassadors, heads of delegations, diplomats, fashion and entertainment VIPs, and prominent climate change activists. Both the luncheon and banquet gathered 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.

Moderated by F4D Founder Evie Evangelou and co-moderated by Founder, CEO and Chief Mentor of ThreeEQ Jason Ma, the banquet featured a live musical performance by Grammy-award winner Dionne Warwick. F4D presenters included Earthday Network President Kathleen Rogers, Film Producer Michael Simkin, environmentalist Dr. Marcelo Carvalho De Andrade, financier Mickey Shapiro, and TV personality Nigel Barker.

Honorees at the banquet were presented with Agents of Change awards. Additionally, co-MC Jason Ma was inducted into the F4D League of Gentlemen.

The honorees included:

Hugh Evans and Simon Moss of Global Citizen, Impact to End Extreme Poverty Award, accepted by Liza Henshaw, President of Global Citizen
Yunus Dogan, Chairman of Texas Biotech, Impact in Food Security Award
Odessa Rae, Filmmaker and Producer, CNN Films “Navalny”, Impact Through Film Award
Richard Kane, Verijet – Green Travel Award
Education Above All (EAA), Impact Through Education Award. Mubarak Al-Thani, EAA Head of Development, accepted the award on behalf of the Foundation, founded by Her Royal Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

Other attendees included:

Diane Warren, Grammy Award Winning Singer and Songwriter
Patrick Harrison, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars)
Roger Mancusi, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars)
Catherine Bradley, Actress
Roma Abdesselam, Influencer
Kate & Lisa Sokolov, Co-Founders of Social Goods

HRH Mubarak Al-Thani, Education Above All Head of Development

The menu featured specially curated plant-based cuisine, a fashion exhibit on preserving culture, a floral fashion runway dance by Princess Lockerooo, and a live musical performance by Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick, who performed the song “Free,” written by award-winning songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Dionne Warwick’s son, Grammy Award winning producer Damon Elliott. The song is part of the initiative Musicians in the Key of Free, in support of refugees worldwide.

The following day, the 10th Annual First Ladies Luncheon on Tuesday, September 20th was once again moderated by Evie Evangelou and co-moderated by keynote speaker and angel investor Dame Didi Wong, who was also inducted into the exclusive F4D Leading Ladies club at the event.

The luncheon featured a “green carpet,” cocktail reception, awards ceremony, and fashion runway show highlighting “Ten Decades of Fashion 1920-2020,” curated by New York Vintage founder Shannon Hoey and designer Bonnie Young of BY. Bonnie Young.

The first-of-its kind fashion show opened with an original song from artist and produce Celia Babini AKA CIB, and featured a mix of pieces from the BY. Bonnie Young collection paired with vintage designer pieces from Shannon Hoey’s New York Vintage.

The runway showcased a modern twist on fashion from various decades – all while focusing on zero waste, locally made and upcycled materials. During the lunch, an installation of mannequins, each representing a different decade with iconic pieces from various notable designers were presented as well. The luncheon included remarks by New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, and Kim Macharia, executive director of Space Prize. Diane Warren and Sofia Carson presented their song “Applause” – written by Diane and performed by Sofia.

The song is from the film Tell It Like A Woman, which is produced by Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment in association with We Do It Together, a non-profit film production company dedicated to gender parity. The performance was presented by Chiara Tilesi, founder of We Do It Together.

Closing the luncheon with a musical performance was eclectic musician Sirintip, an award-winning experimental trilingual singer and composer with clout in both the pop and jazz worlds. Her new album “Carbon” was recorded at carbon-neutral Manifold Recording, and centers around climate change.

Senator Biaggi and Philanthropist and F4D Ambassador for Africa, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, presented awards to:

Grammy and Emmy-winning and 13-time Oscar-nominated Songwriter Diane Warren and Actress, Singer, and Activist Sofia Carson, Women’s Champion Award
Gina Diez Barroso, Founder of Grupo Diarq, Founder and President of Centro University, and Dalia Empower, Women’s Empowerment Award
Aslaug Magnusdottir, Founder and CEO of Katla and Co-Founder of Moda Operandi, Fashion 4 Development Award and was announced as F4D Goodwill Ambassador
Sudha Reddy, Director, MEIL and Founder of the Sudha Reddy Foundation, Philanthropy Award
Lola Tillyaeva, Founder, Humankind, The Harmonist and La Maison de l’Ouzbékistan Gallery was announced as F4D Goodwill Ambassador for Preserving Culture
BrieLee Lu, Model and Student, was named F4D Youth Goodwill Ambassador

Evie Evangelou is the president and founder of F4D, which was established to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in cooperation with the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and in support of “Every Woman, Every Child.”

Evangelou introduced F4D’s global awareness campaign at the inaugural First Ladies Luncheon initiative in 2011. She has served as interim Deputy Secretary General for the World Federation of the United Nations and used her expertise in cultural diplomacy and international relations to launch F4D.

“I am thrilled to bring together leaders and change-makers from around the world to leverage the expression of fashion for sustainable economic growth and independence of communities worldwide,” said Evie Evangelou, president and founder of Fashion 4 Development and founder of the campaign Sustainable Living is the New Fashion."

“Fashion 4 Development is about so much more than just apparel and accessories. It’s about sustainable lifestyle, and we are proud to convene international thought leaders from the United Nations, Human Kind, and our other global partners to share ideas and inspiration for how we can improve sustainable systems – inspiring responsible social change from what we wear to what we eat and how we live.”

To learn more about F4D, please visit: http://www.fashion4development.com