Mercado Global proudly celebrated its annual Fashion Forward Gala at Tribeca 360° in honor of International Women’s Day. This signature event brought together leaders in fashion, finance, and philanthropy to champion the empowerment of Indigenous women across the Americas through entrepreneurship and financial independence.
This year’s gala honored a distinguished group of trailblazers whose work exemplifies a shared commitment to creating a more equitable future:
The evening featured a VIP cocktail hour from 6:30–7:30 PM, followed by a seated dinner and program from 7:30–10:30 PM. The evening was hosted by influencer Yayis (Oralia A. Villarreal), who served as the master of ceremonies. With her warmth and charisma, she illuminated the night, guiding guests through an inspiring program that celebrated fashion’s power to drive meaningful change.
As part of the evening’s program, a special screening of the documentary was hosted, produced in collaboration with CORE, a global streaming network for conscious media. The screening was held in partnership with the platform's CORE ONE Peace Initiative, a global movement dedicated to fostering harmony, peace, and positive change. The documentary beautifully showcases howgenerosity transforms lives and highlights the inspiring journey of Mercado Global’s artisans.
“This year’s gala showcased the incredible impact we can achieve when we come together to empower women," says Ruth Álvarez-Degolia, Founder and Executive Director of Mercado Global. "Thanks to our honorees andsupporters, we’re able to expand our mission of creating economic opportunities for Indigenous women and building a more equitable future for all.”
Attendees included fashion models Ubah Hassan, Hiandra Martinez, Lineisy Montero, Maggie Rowlins and Lameka Fox, and Maribel Lieberman of MaireBelle chocolates.
Image credit: Brendon Cook/BFA
