Fashion Group International
It all began in 1928 when 17 women, gathered by Edna Woolman Chase,
Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, met for lunch in a modest midtown New York restaurant.
They had three things in common:
Each held a job of consequence in the business of fashion,
each held all the others in high regard and together they
held a belief that fashion needed a forum,
a stage, or a force to express and
enhance a widening awareness of the
American fashion business
and of women’s roles in that business.
The Fashion Group®, conceived at an
informal luncheon in 1928 became an organization in 1930,
with a place, a purpose, by-laws, officers and
women eager to be members.
Some of those Founding and Charter
members were:
Elizabeth Arden
Margaret Case
Eleanor Roosevelt
Helena Rubinstein
Julia Coburn
Lilly Dache
Jessica Daves
Nan Duskin
Edith Head
Eleanor LeMaire
Claire McCardell
Clare Potter
Virginia Pope
Dorothy Shaver
Adele Simpson
Carmel Snow
Miss Tobé
Their first office space was
donated by Louis Fairchild in his Women's Wear Daily building on East 12th
Street. The second office space was at 572
Madison Avenue, donated by Harper’s Bazaar.
Then in 1934, from the minutes of the Board meeting of October 18:
Discussion as to how to meet
the rent of the contemplated space
in 30 Rockefeller Center
included a Fashion Group party using
talent within the membership
lampooning fashion, to be known as The Fashion Follies™.
Today, The Fashion Group® offers
membership to both men and women.
FGI mission statement
The Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional
organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including
apparel, accessories, beauty and home.
The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business
of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective
in their careers. To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends
in person, online and in print; access to business professionals and a
gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace.
the goals of the organization are:
To advance professionalism in fashion and its
related lifestyle industries.
To provide a public forum for examination of important,
contemporary issues in the business of fashion.
To present timely information regarding national and
global trends that have an effect on the fashion industries.
To attain greater recognition of men’s and women’s
achievements in business.
To encourage men and women to seek career opportunities
in fashion and related industries.
To provide activities and programs which enhance networking
skills and encourage interpersonal contacts so as to further the
professional, social and personal development of members.
To become a member of this wonderful organization or find out more, please go to: