Cultured Focus Magazine Awards 2023: Celebrating Pioneers in Fashion and Film
On October 3rd, 2023, the Quad Cinema in the heart of New York City played host to the Cultured Focus Magazine Awards 2023. Several major names in the culture were awarded in a ceremony attended by several luminaries in fashion, film, and the arts. Check out the highlights below from the event that celebrated not only fashion designer Elie Tahari, but others paving the way in the fashion and film industry. The event was held in parallel with New York Film Festival to laud film and directors David Serero and Ellie Foumbi's success in the industry. The audience received a special screening on Serero's film " The United States of Elie Tahari", an award-winning documentary on the designer's rise to success.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS| CULTURED FOCUS MAGAZINE AWARDS 2023
2023 Cultured Focus Award Recipients
A truly dynamic and talented group of leaders in fashion and film, the 2023 recipients of the Cultured Focus Awards that were honored during the event are below.
Elie Tahari’s Legacy in the Fashion Industry
Illustrious fashion icon Elie Tahari received the Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious honor that celebrates his 40-year spanning career in the fashion industry.
His work began in the disco culture of the 1970s. It was in 1977 that Tahari released 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, Tahari opened a new chapter of his 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, Elie 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. The Fashion Group International awarded Tahari the coveted Brand Vision Award in 2014.
Miami Modest Fashion Week Founder Norsham Mohamad-Garcia
The event also highlighted the work of Norsham Mohamad-Garcia, known as the Unorthodox CEO for her profound contributions to the global modest fashion landscape.
She is the founder and Executive Producer of the FIRST Modest Fashion Week in the USA, established in 2019. She also leads the Connector Group & Agency, a strategic business development and consultancy firm founded in Miami in 2009. For these accomplishments, Mohamad-Garcia won the Visionary of Modest Fashion Producer Award from Cultured Focus Magazine.
Celebrated Filmmaker Ellie Foumbi
Writer and director Ellie Foumbi was the recipient of the coveted Excellence in Film Award. Her work has appeared in a number of renowned film festivals worldwide, including Venice, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Hamptons, and Mill Valley.
Foumbi's debut film, Our Father, the Devil (2021), won widespread acclaim after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. It’s gone on to win 27 accolades at film festivals around the world, and it secured a nomination for Best Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Opera Legend David Serero
Director David Serero, widely known as an opera singer, actor, and producer, was also recognized at the gala. With an impressive portfolio spanning over 2,500 performances across 45 countries, his contributions were acknowledged with the "Excellence in the Arts Award."
The evening's highlight was a special screening of Serero's award-winning documentary The United States of Elie Tahari, which overlapped with Tahari’s presence as a fellow Cultured Focus Magazine award recipient.
Tech Pioneer Kimberly Carney
The Cultured Focus ‘Innovation in Fashion’ Award was presented to Kimberly Carney, Founder and CEO of The Wires, home to Fashwire and GlossWire, B2B2C global two-sided marketplaces providing consumers an opportunity to discover over 800 emerging and established brands from more than 50 countries while delivering their brands critical real-time customer feedback.
Having started her career in tech followed by owning a multi-brand fashion retail store for nearly 17 years, Carney is a powerhouse and go to expert in the B2B2C space.
She knows first-hand there is value for brands in real-time consumer behavior intelligence.
The Red Carpet Reception
Following the screening, the Cultured Focus Magazine Awards 2023 ceremony took center stage, culminating in a red-carpet reception. The event, orchestrated by Film Producer 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, Dato Fathol Razak, and New York Fashion Icon Fern Mallis, former Executive Director of 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.