The Lions Champions Ethical Fashion at Mercado Global’s Fashion Forward Gala

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On March 6, 2025, The Lions Management joined industry leaders at Mercado Global’s Fashion Forward Gala, an event dedicated to empowering Indigenous women artisans through ethical fashion. Held at Tribeca 360° in honor of International Women’s Day, the evening highlighted the role of fashion in driving social and economic change while celebrating the impact of Mercado Global’s mission.

This year’s honorees included Julia Kisla Taylor, CEO of The Lions Management, Fernando García, Co-Creative Director of Oscar de la Renta, and Madeleine Sinclair, Senior Managing Director at Blue Owl Capital. Their work exemplifies a shared commitment to equity, sustainability, and empowering women in business and fashion.

(Ruth Álvarez-Degolia, Founder and Executive Director of Mercado Global)

“This year’s gala showcased the incredible impact we can achieve when we come together to empower women,” said Ruth Álvarez-Degolia, Founder and Executive Director of Mercado Global. “Thanks to our honorees and supporters, we’re able to expand our mission of creating economic opportunities for Indigenous women and building a more equitable future for all.”

Under Kisla Taylor’s leadership, The Lions has continuously championed fashion as a platform for influence and responsibility. As a board member of Mercado Global, she has helped elevate the visibility of its artisans, ensuring their craftsmanship is not only recognized as a cultural tradition but integrated into the broader fashion industry.

“Fashion is one of the most powerful storytelling tools we have, said Kisla Taylor, and that means we have a responsibility to use it for something bigger than just aesthetics. When we support ethical fashion, we’re not just helping artisans—we’re changing the industry for the better.”

(Fernando García, Madeleine Sinclair, Julia Kisla-Taylor)

The evening, hosted by influencer Yayis (Oralia A. Villarreal), featured a VIP cocktail reception, a seated dinner, and a special screening of A Profound Journey of Heritage and Culture, a documentary produced in collaboration with CORE, a global platform for conscious media. Released in full on March 8th, the film highlights the artisans behind Mercado Global and the power of ethical fashion to transform lives.
The event drew an influential mix of fashion insiders, including Vogue US editor Lilah Ramzi, Christine Goeppel from Cartier, and models Ubah Hassan, Hiandra Martinez, Lineisy Montero, Maggie Rawlins, Tanya Kizko, and Lameka Fox. Their attendance underscored a growing movement in the fashion industry toward sustainability, fair labor practices, and responsible production.

Beyond celebrating Mercado Global’s work, the Fashion Forward Gala was a call to action for the industry to embrace ethical business models that prioritize people, not just profits. Mercado Global’s partnerships with brands like Levi’s®, Stuart Weitzman, and Free People provide Indigenous women artisans with the skills, tools, and access needed for financial independence.

(Madeleine Sinclair, Ruth Álvarez-Degolia, Julia Kisla-Taylor)

The Lions’ involvement underscores its broader commitment to fashion as a force for empowerment, equity, and lasting social impact. By supporting organizations like Mercado Global, The Lions reinforces the idea that fashion’s influence extends beyond aesthetics—it can drive real, measurable change.

The Fashion Forward Gala reaffirmed that when fashion, finance, and philanthropy come together, they have the power to shape a more just and sustainable future—where style is a tool for opportunity, not just an industry of trends.

Presented by: Prestige Perfections

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