On October 3rd, 2023, the Quad Cinema in the heart of New York City played host to the 2023 Cultured Focus Magazine Awards. Several major leaders in the culture were awarded in a ceremony attended by luminaries in fashion, film, and the arts.
Elie Tahari’s Legacy in the Fashion Industry
Illustrious fashion icon Elie Tahari built a billion-dollar empire over his 40 years in the fashion industry. For his work, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious honor that celebrates his influential career.
Tahari got his start in fashion during the disco era of the 1970s. In 1977, he opened his inaugural fashion exhibition, showcasing a stunning collection of dance dresses and blouses at the iconic Studio 54 in New York City.
By the 1980s, he began a new chapter of his entrepreneurial career by taking up the tailored suit as his idée fixe. By the 2000s, his brand expanded into a number of new domains, including men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, jewelry, footwear, and home goods.
In 2012, Tahari appeared as a guest judge on the acclaimed American series Project Runway All Stars. The next year, he was celebrated in New York City when then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially proclaimed September 4 as “Elie Tahari Day.” He was also awarded the coveted Brand Vision Award by the Fashion Group International in 2014.
Modest Fashion Titan Norsham Mohamad-Garcia
Norsham Mohamad Garcia is the Executive Producer and Founder of the FIRST Modest Fashion Week—an event dedicated to shining a spotlight on luxury, global modest and lifestyle fashion.
She also leads the Connector Group & Agency, a strategic business development and consultancy firm founded in Miami in 2009.
Because of her profound contributions to the global modest fashion landscape, Garcia has become known as the “Unorthodox CEO.” For her accomplishments, Mohamad-Garcia received the Visionary of Modest Fashion Producer Award.
Celebrated Filmmaker Ellie Foumbi
Ellie Foumbi is a Writer and Film Director who is responsible for the creation of Our Father, the Devil (2021). Due to Foumbi’s leadership, her film received widespread acclaim after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The film has since won 27 accolades at film festivals and secured a nomination for Best Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Foumbi’s film has also appeared at film festivals around the world, including Venice, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Hamptons, and Mill Valley.
Because of her astounding work and ability to bring stories to life, she was the recipient of the coveted Excellence in Film Award accepted by Our Father, the Devil Producer Roy Clovis Jr.
Opera Legend David Serero
David Serero is widely known throughout the entertainment industry as an opera singer, actor, producer, and director. He was recognized at the gala because of his impressive portfolio spanning over 2,500 performances across 45 countries.
His innovative work in the film industry has resulted in many acclaimed works, including his award-winning documentary The United States of Elie Tahari which was screened during the event, and paid tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Elie Tahari.
For Serero’s numerous contributions and leadership in the entertainment industry, he received the “Excellence in the Arts Award.”
Tech Pioneer Kimberly Carney
Kimberly Carney began her career in the tech industry and ended up owning a multi-brand fashion retail store for nearly 17 years.
She went on to combine the fashion world with the tech world by founding and becoming the CEO of The Wires—a company focused on providing consumers with an opportunity to explore a global marketplace with over 800 fashion brands.
Her revolutionary work landed her with the Cultured Focus “Innovation in Fashion” award (accepted by Janice Carpio-Gamboa- Global Head of Business Development for FashWire).
The Red-Carpet Reception
Following the screening, the Cultured Focus Awards ceremony took center stage, culminating in a red-carpet and champagne reception. The event, orchestrated by Taylor Re Lynn, was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Cultured Focus Magazine and Franklin Eugene. There were many big names in attendance, including Abdelkader Jamoussi, Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco, Glokal Transportation President Dato Fathol Razak, and New York Fashion Icon Fern Mallis, former Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
Cultured Focus Magazine, since its inception in 2016, has been a vital source of entertainment news, offering readers a window into the dynamic world of global arts and culture.
