A Celebration of Women™

is elated to Celebrate the Life of yet another amazing woman leader that has used her personal talent to thrive in an industry originally controlled by men; fashion. From this success, this generous female soul used this life of privilege as an avenue to ’empower women around the world’ through her own charitable foundation. The primary recipients of the Foundation’s support are organizations within the following sectors: Community Building, Education, Human Rights, Arts, Health and the Environment.

 

 

 

WOMAN of ACTION™

 

Diane von Furstenberg

 

 

 
Diane Simone Michelle Halfin was born in Brussels, Belgium.

Her father was Romanian-born Leon (Lipa) Halfin, who immigrated to Belgium from Chişinău (then Bessarabia province of Romania and now the capital of Moldova) in 1929. Her mother was Greek-born Liliane Nahmias, a Holocaust survivor. Just 18 months before Diane was born, her mother was in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Diane was destined to grow into the fearless, powerful woman leader that she is today.

Diane has spoken broadly about her mother’s influence in her life, crediting her for teaching her that “Fear is not an option.”

Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane zu Fürstenberg (German: Diane Prinzessin zu Fürstenberg), (born 31 December 1946) is a Belgian born American fashion designer best known for her iconic ‘wrap dress‘.

She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg.

Following their divorce in 1972, she has continued to use his family name, although she is no longer entitled to use the title princess following her divorce and subsequent remarriage in 2001.

Diane later studied economics at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. She then moved to Paris and worked as an assistant to fashion photographer’s agent, Albert Koski. She left Paris for Italy to work as an apprentice to textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti in his factory, where she learned about cut, color and fabric. It was here that she designed and produced her first silk jersey dresses.

“Women have always inspired me…and I design to inspire them.”

Diane von Furstenberg first arrived in the fashion world in 1972 with her iconic wrap dress, the seed of what is today a full fashion house. Diane von Furstenberg first entered the fashion world in 1972 with a suitcase full of jersey dresses. Two years later, she created the wrap dress, which came to symbolize power and independence for an entire generation of women. By 1976, she had sold over a million of the dresses and was featured on the cover of Newsweek. In 1997, after a hiatus from fashion, Diane re-launched the iconic dress that started it all, reestablishing her company as the global luxury lifestyle brand that it is today.

DVF has expanded to a full collection of ready-to-wear and accessories including shoes, handbags, small leather goods, scarves, and fine jewelry. The company also offers luggage, eyewear, and home furnishings.

DVF is now sold in over 55 countries, including 85 DVF owned and partnered stores throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

In 2006, was elected the CFDA’s president, an office she continues to hold. In this significant role, she has dedicated herself to fostering emerging talent and helping to establish the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, which protects designers from counterfeit reproductions of their work.

Diane’s commitment to empowering women is expressed not only through fashion but also philanthropy and mentorship. She sits on the board of Vital Voices, a non-governmental organization that supports female leaders and entrepreneurs around the world.

As a longtime resident of New York’s Meatpacking District, Diane is a vocal member of the local community and was actively involved in the campaign to save the historic High Line railway.

Diane is married to Barry Diller.

She has two children, Alexander and Tatiana, and four grandchildren.

With all of her successes, Diane happily maintains, “Children are my greatest creation.”

By 1976, Diane von Furstenberg had sold millions of her dresses, coming to symbolize female power and freedom to an entire generation. In 1997, after a hiatus from fashion, Diane von Furstenberg reemerged on the New York fashion scene with the re-launch of the dress that had started it all and began transforming her company into the global luxury lifestyle brand it is today.

In 2005, Diane received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for her impact on fashion, and one year later was elected the CFDA’s president, an office she continues to hold. IMAGE

DVF – Diane von Furstenberg

In this significant role, she has dedicated herself to fostering emerging talent and helping to establish the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, which protects designers from counterfeit reproductions of their work.

Diane’s commitment to ’empowering women’ is expressed not only through fashion but also ‘philanthropy and mentorship’.

She sits on the board of Vital Voices, a non-governmental organization that supports female leaders and entrepreneurs around the world.

In 2010, with The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, Diane established the DVF Awards to honor and provide grants to women who have displayed leadership, strength and courage in their commitment to their causes. In 2012, Diane was named the most powerful woman in fashion by Forbes Magazine.

Diane von Fürstenberg is a Director of The Diller – von Fürstenberg Family Foundation, a private foundation that provides philanthropic support to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations within the following sectors: Community Building, Education, Human Rights, Arts, Health and the Environment.

In 2010, Diane created The DvF Awards, which are presented annually to four women who display leadership, strength, and courage in their commitment to women’s causes. Supported by The Diller – von Fürstenberg Family Foundation, recipients are each granted $50,000 to further their work.

In 2011, The Diller – von Fürstenberg Family Foundation made a $20 million commitment to the High Line, which is the largest single private contribution to a public park in New York City’s history. The Diller – von Fürstenberg family has donated a total of $35 million to the High Line to date.

Diane von Fürstenberg sits on the board of Vital Voices, a women’s leadership organization that empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the world. Diane is also an honorary director of the Housatonic Valley Association.

Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation

The DVFFF is a private family foundation which provides philanthropic support to various 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. Founded in 1999, the Foun

PUBLIC SPACES / ART

Central Park Conservancy www.centralparknyc.org

Friends of the Highline www.thehighline.org

Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City www.nyc.gov

Signature Theatre Company www.signaturetheatre.org

The Whitney Museum www.whitney.org

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America www.bbbsa.org

Chabad of Greater Los Feliz www.chabadlosfeliz.org/

Citymeals-on-Wheels www.citymeals.org

Habitat for Humanity www.habitat.org

 

 

Online links:

Diller Foundation – Directors
Diller Foundation – Facebook
Diane von Furstenberg on Twitter @DVF
DVF Indonesia (DVFIndonesia) on Twitter
*** Diane V Furstenberg (DianeVFurstenb) on Twitter
Diane von Furstenberg | LinkedIn

 

 
 
 

A Celebration of Women™

welcomes this woman of vision into our global Alumni with open arms, looking forward to many celebrations and future collaborations in bettering the lives for all women and children on this planet.

 

 

Brava Diane!