Mary McFadden, designer, collector and world traveler. Mary formed her company in New York City in 1976, creating distinctive apparel that was inspired by the art of China, Africa, Greece, and South America as well as cultures she encountered during her travels. She collected a distinguished array of objects in varied substances, particularly gold. Acclaimed for her use of African and Asian prints intricately quilted jackets, as well as for her pure, timeless designs using “Marii” pleating that was enhanced by beaded cuffs and collars, jewel encrusted trim and panels, as well as gold embroidery, “zardozi.” McFadden also designed bold sculptural jewelry. Her many honors include the President’s Fellows Award of the Rhode Island School of Design. She was elected president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Her collections have been shown on runways in New York, London, Russia, India, South and Central America, and Tokyo. Miss McFadden received a Coty Award in 1976; she entered the Coty Hall of Fame in 1979, the same year she received the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award. Her collections have also been exhibited at Allentown Museum, PA; The Dixon Museum, Memphis Tennessee; The Women’s Museum, Washington D.D. and More College of Art, Philadelphia, PA.