New York, NY (February 3, 2023) – The seventh annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in support of prostate cancer awareness, with fashion partner Fashion Group International, Inc., took place live on Wednesday, February 1st at Moonlight Studios in New York City. Sponsored by Janssen Oncology, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, the show benefited nonprofit advocacy group ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer and its efforts to raise awareness and funding to support prostate cancer patients and to improve early detection and reduce mortality. The show was also streamed live directly from ZeroCancer.org and fgi.org.
The Blue Jacket Fashion Show, founded by fashion designer Frederick Anderson, and marketer, Laura Miller, unites the worlds of fashion, entertainment, sports, healthcare, and media to openly discuss prostate cancer, with an emphasis on racial disparities and underserved communities.
Event participants for the main New York event included actor Mario Cantone; CNN’s Don Lemon, chef Marcus Samuelsson; author and scientist Bill Nye, actor Dominic Fumusa; actor London Brown; actor Eric West; NY1’s Frank DiLella; model Alex Lundqvist and more. Stylists/Designers such as Arjona Collection; Thom Browne; Michael Kors; Ben Sherman; Levi’s; Men’s Wearhouse; Stephen F; Bruno Magali; Carlos Campos; and Tommy Hilfiger also reimagined the traditional “blue jacket” that the models wore down the runway.
Ahead of the New York fashion show, the Mt. Sinai/Montefiore Hospital mobile medical van was located outside the venue to provide a quick and easy prostate-specific antigen test to participants, guests, and pedestrians.
Emerging designers through fashion partner, Fashion Group International debuted one-of-a-kind blue jackets on the runway in New York. Designers featured included Carlos Campos, Epperson, Peyman Umay, Don Morphy, Niyi Okuboyejo, Loris Diran, and Terry Singh, all former FGI Rising Star Award winners and finalists. Now in its 27th year, Fashion Group’s signature Rising Star Awards ceremony remains a vital and highly visible platform for professional recognition celebrating emerging talent in fashion, beauty, business, retail, and related categories.
In addition to live streaming the New York City event at FGI.org, FGI hosted regional “viewing parties” hosted by local FGI chapters in Dallas, St. Louis, and Atlanta. The FGI Dallas event was hosted by FGI Rising Star, Don Morphy, Daphne Benzaquen hosted the FGI St. Louis event, and Jerry Buckner hosted the FGI Atlanta viewing party. Dillard’s department store of Atlanta also pledged 10 percent of fashion sales proceeds from the evening of February 1, 2023, in support ZERO’s initiatives. Attendees of the New York event and FGI regional chapter viewing parties wore blue jackets in solidarity.
Fashion Group International will continue its Blue Jacket partnership with an exciting additional event. not end with the live runway event. FGI has also partnered with Jack Menashe, CEO, Creative Director, and Founder of new Soho men’s haberdashery Sartoria Studio. Menashe has pledged to donate 10 percent of February sales to the FGI Foundation’s Blue Jacket Fashion Show Support Zero Cancer Fund, and he also outfitted event co-Founder and fashion designer Frederick Anderson in a made-to-measure Sartoria Studio blue jacket for the evening.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. In 2022, an estimated 268,490 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and 34,500 men will die from the disease, according to the recently released American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2022. Furthermore, Black men in the U.S. remain 2.2 times more likely to die of prostate cancer than white men, Endnote Reference, 3 and have the highest documented prostate cancer incidence rates worldwide. iii
ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer is committed to ending racial and health disparities in prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Racial Disparities Task Force helps focus raise awareness of prostate cancer among high-risk men, focusing on education and early detection, clinical trial advocacy, and financial assistance and patient support. The Fashion Group Foundation has set up the FGI Rising Stars and Blue Jacket Fashion Show Support Zero Cancer fund for secure donations.
Maryanne Grisz, Fashion Group International President and CEO: “Fashion Group International is proud to partner with The Blue Jacket Show, showcasing the talent of our FGI RISING STARS, while raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer prevention with ZERO and Janssen Oncology with our international network of FGI chapters.”
The latest guidelines from the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2022 indicate that Black men and those with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65 should discuss specific prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening with a healthcare provider beginning at age 45, and men at even higher risk (those who have several close relatives diagnosed at an early age and those who are BRCA mutation carriers) should have this discussion beginning at age 40. Iii
Visit ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer to learn more about – and donate to – the Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Initiative, which provides direct aid to Black and brown communities who are at the highest risk of prostate cancer and are experiencing additional financial and mental distress due to COVID-19.
Donate to the FGI Rising Stars and Blue Jacket Fashion Show Support Zero Cancer fund:
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/fashion-group-foundation-inc/fgi-rising-stars-and-blue-jacket-fashion-show-support-zero-cancer.
ABOUT FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1928 by a group of seventeen women leaders, with original charters including Helena Rubenstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Edith Head, and other renowned fashion icons, Fashion Group International (FGI) was established as an industry forum for career advancement. Today, the non-profit organization remains dedicated to connecting and supporting fashion professionals at every level, from startups to seasoned professionals. By providing access, education, and connection, FGI seeks to spark creativity, fuel innovation, and advance the business of fashion.
FGI maintains a headquarters in New York City, chapters in numerous regions worldwide, and a roster of over 5,000 active members in fashion and related design sectors including apparel, accessories, beauty, retail, and lifestyle. Vital member benefits offered to FGI members include ongoing professional development opportunities, forums for discussion and networking, market insights, mentorship opportunities with industry leaders, business directories and resources, and high-profile event platforms for professional recognition.
The Fashion Group Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Fashion Group International and is dedicated to nurturing the fashion talent of tomorrow through education, scholarships, internships, and career counseling services. The FGI Foundation also promotes charitable partnerships and impactful public service initiatives.
Donate to the FGI Rising Stars and Blue Jacket Fashion Show Support Zero Cancer fund at: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/fashion-group-foundation-inc/fgi-rising-stars-and-blue-jacket-fashion-show-support-zero-cancer.
About The Blue Jacket Initiative
Frederick Anderson and Laura Miller founded the Blue Jacket Fashion Show to create a platform to openly discuss men’s health issues with an emphasis on cancer education, early detection, prevention, and treatment options.
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we are creating a future where the disease is a thing of the past. We’re the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.
Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenUS and @JanssenGlobal.
About Zero Cancer
ZERO — The End of Prostate Cancer is the leading national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer. ZERO advances research improves men’s and families’ lives and inspires action. We’re building Generation ZERO, the first generation of men free from prostate cancer, through our national run/walk series, education and patient support programs, and grassroots advocacy. ZERO is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization recognized with four out of four stars by Charity Navigator, accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and with regional chapters across the country. We dedicate 85 cents of every dollar to research and programs.
For more information, visit www.zerocancer.org.
