President

David Santiago

201.686.5969

santi@casasanti.com


On behalf of all of the IFDA Board here in New York, welcome! We are thrilled to welcome members from every facet of the furnishing and design industry. The IFDA promotes open sharing, mutual respect, and education, as well as community service and ethical practices.

Our board Members

Jennifer Munich - Treasurer

Ifdasocial@gmail.com

Susan Hirsh, FIFDA - Secretary

susanhirsh@optonline.net

Sarah Fletcher - VP Marketing & Communications

sapoflet@gmail.com

Susan Hirsh, FIFDA - VP Educational Foundation

susanhirsh@optonline.net

Kaitlyn Lembo - VP Financial Resources

kaitlyn@oblaneyrinker.com

Zahava Schwartz - VP Membership Chair

zahavaschwartz55@gmail.com

Michelle Slovak - VP Special Events

mslovakdesign@yahoo.com

Maureen Klein - VP Professional Development

getklein@optonline.net

Sarah Fletcher - VP Public Relations

sapoflet@gmail.com

Rose Gilbert, FIFDA - VP Education

gilbert.rose@gmail.com

Clare Coleman, FIFDA - Director at Large

ckcpr@aol.com

Andrea Warriner - Chapter Advisor

andrea.ifdany@gmail.com

Patricia Pepe Clark - VP Trade Partners

patricia@designdecision.com

Erin Nova - VP Trade Partners

erinnovator@gmail.com

Diamond Industry Partner

Platinum Industry Partner

Gold Industry Partners

Silver Industry Partner

New York Gold Industry Partners

New York Silver Industry Partners

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To see or download videos of some of our recent virtual webinar events, please click on the NEWS tab.

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Click the EVENTS tab for the calendar listing of  upcoming events or scroll down for event previews.

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On this page, scroll down to the end, after events listings, to find the names of Past Chapter Presidents and the NY Big Apple and Circle of Excellence Awards recipients over the years.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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MONDAY,, April 17, 2o23 , 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

 

MEET NEW MEMBER NICHOLE PERRIS

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

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Wednesday, April 26, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

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*SAVE THE DATES–MAY 20-23, 2023

IFDA JAPAN VISITS IFDA USA IN NYC 

PRESENTING THE IFDA JAPAN FAIR

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THEIR VISIT AND EVENTS

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RECENT EVENTS

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Monday, April 3, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

 

Wednesday, March 22, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023
5:30pm
Join us at
Harbinger with
Robert Contini and explore their to-the-trade showroom lines.
A special teaser from
Charles Pavarini III for an upcoming book launch event

of his new book Lighting Beyond Edison.

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Bring a potential-member guest interested in growing our to-the-trade community with the IFDA Family.
 
Harbinger | 200 Lexington Avenue | Suite 601 | NYC 10016
RSVP Required: please submit guest’s name and email address.
@IFDANY
@HarbingerNYC
@SomebodyGetMeSanti
@PavariniDesign

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Monday, March 6, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

27 East 21st Street

Tuesday, March 7, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Mark Rosenhaus willl speak about Geometry in Nature: The DNA of Design at the Artemest Galleria

 

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Tuesday, February 21, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

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Monday, February 6, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

 

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Monday, January 2, 2o23 , 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

 

CLICK HERE to RSVP

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Wednesday, January 25, 2o23 , 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, IN PERSON!

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Wednesday, November 30, 2o22 , 12:00 pm via zoom

Pratt Students Design Products to aid Patients with Mental Health Challenges 

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For more information and for registration link click here.

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Thursday, December 8, 2o22 , 5:00 – 8:00 pm in Person

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Patti Carpenter with a M&O Market Review at Holiday House Dec 8th— —

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For more information and for registration link click here.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2o22 , 5:30 pm in Person— –

IFDA Holiday Party Wednesday, Dec 14th at Royal Botania

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For more information and for registration link click here.

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Wednesday, November 16, 2o22 , 12:00 pm EDT

  CLICK HERE for the Link to Join

Wednesday, Nov 16, 2022

12 Noon EST

Our Speaker:
Carlos Gutierrez :
to unearth and offer the best in contemporary design to the trade community. For a discerning list of A&D clients, Veekar provides exceptional luxury products to add to their incredible residential  and hospitality projects. The Veekar goal is to support creative designers and unique brands to introduce them to the appropriate firms and Interior Designers in an effort to create beautiful collaborative interiors. To date Veekar brand introductions have garnered many successful relationships and has enabled our clients to grow their business and focus on their creative specialties, while Veekar focuses on supporting their brand growth through collection introductions, brand recognition, and strong sales connections. With a background in Interior Design, Direct Sales, Independent Brand Representation, Design Business, and Showroom Management, Carlos Gutierrez took all of his hands-on experience to build the The VeeKar Collective to offer the best in contemporary furnishings for the trade. Having begun with a NYC focus Veekar has expanded its presence across the entire United States and offers market introductions in all major markets across the US.

With twenty years experience catering to the New York Architectural & Design community Carlos Gutierrez launched The Veekar Collective

www.TheVeekarCollective.com @TheVeekarCollective
IFDA Social Media Handles:
@TheVeekarCollective
@IFDANY
@IFDA.Official
@SomebodyGetMeSanti

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Monday, October 24, 2o22 , 6:30 pm EDT

 Click here for the link to join

Would you like to be featured on a Members Hall ?
Easy, Just  add your info in the registration form!

Meet our Featured member:

Patricia Pepe-Clark

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Thursday, November 3, 2o22 , 5 – 7pm pm EDT 

 

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Saturday, November 5, 2022  10:00 am -2:00 pm EDT

Designing Your Holiday Furoshki

(Japanese wrapping cloth)

with Resist Techniques  

to Enhance Your Professional  

and Personal Lives

During this intensive workshop we will explore
resist dye concepts, learn three resist dye techniques (shibori),
and design a square cotton textile piece.
The textile will be dyed, the resist materials removed, and the design will be revealed. You will learn ways to finish the edges of the fabric and how to use this new work in your everyday life as
a wearable accessory, table top runner and a wrapping textile for presents.
All levels welcome.
Small class setting limited to 10 Members
Light refreshments will be served
(You are welcome to bring your left over Halloween candy to share!)
Saturday, November 5th, 2022
10:00 AM -2:00 PM, In-Person
 
$50.00 Event fee includes material fee
Mary Jaeger Atelier
219 Johnson Avenue (Blue Door)
Brooklyn, NY 11206
By train: L Train to the Montrose Station – walk 1.5 blocks (20 minutes from Union Station). The atelier is between Bushwich Ave and Humboldt Street.
By car: Street parking is available.
About Mary Jaeger:
Mary worked in Japan for almost a decade designing clothing and accessory collections for kimono and obi companies, using traditional dyeing techniques, and for department stores. She studied various Japanese dyeing techniques with a focus on tegaki-yuzen.

Currently Mary Jaeger designs her own collection of textiles for her apparel and home accessory collections, available at her atelier and online at maryjaeger.com.

Questions: contact mary@maryjaeger.com

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Saturday, October 15 , 2022  10:00 am -12:00 pm + EDT 

 

Tour of Carnegie Hall Oct 15th

Our EF Tours are Back in Action!

 Join us for a Tour of The Famous Carnegie Hall.

Saturday, Oct 15th

Meet at 10:00 AM in front of the Hall.

Learn about the Architecture and the History

of this beautiful New York City Landmark.

How do you get to  Carnegie Hall?

 Practice, Practice, Practice!   

57th Street and 7th Avenue 

Masks are required while we are touring in the Hall.  
   
 Afterwards we will go for a Dutch Treat Lunch.  
Location to be announced at the Tour.
Proceeds from this event with Support IFDA EF

Wednesday, September 14, 2022   10:00 -8:00PM EDT

For Full Listing of how IFDA is participating see our IFDA International Calendar listing at:

IFDA NY- What’s New What’s Next at NYDC, 200 Lexington Ave.

and…

IFDA Needs you to help host the IFDA table

at What’s New What’s Next.

 If you are attending, take a little time at the 4th Floor office

to promote IFDA and meet other members.

Click here to Volunteer! 

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Wednesday, September 28, 2022   5:30 -7:30PM EDT

Click here to RSVP 

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Monday, August 15, 2022   4:00 -5:00PM EDT

This panel will explore the behind-the-scenes aspects of creating and maintaining a sustainable home while championing sustainable design – with insights from brands like Nemo Tile, sustainable textile manufacturer Nassimi, and an architecture and design firm with high-level expertise in Passive House design: The Turett Collaborative.
Each of the aforementioned have a unique sustainability story to share and can provide valuable insight on how the design industry and homeowners can pursue sustainable practices whether specifying products or designing a home or renovating one.

NYNOW Javits Center

Talk Lounge Booth #501

Monday August 15th 4:00 PM

Click here to RSVP

(You must have a NYNOW show badge to attend this event)

 

PANELISTS:
Iwan Nassimi, Executive Vice President
As the leading manufacturer of sustainable performance textile, Iwan can speak to what to look for, what to care about, and most importantly, how it handles the messes, highlighting material innovation and why its NEW liquid barrier textile, Supreen, is the ultimate sustainable performance fabric.
@nassimillc
Katie Michael-Battaglia, Creative & Design Director
Having 30 years of professional experience in Interior Design, Katie has designed projects in multiple market sectors and a demonstrated history of working in the building materials industry. NY State Certified Interior Designer, LEED Accredited & NCIDQ certificate holder as well as Professional Member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Past President and former VP of Student Development of the New York Chapter of IIDA. Her work has included projects for very large corporate headquarters, retail showrooms, large entertainment facilities as well as boutique hospitality and residential.
@nemotile
Wayne Turett, Architect & Founder
An award-winning NYC-based architecture and design firm.  Wayne is well-versed to speak about sustainable architecture practices, IAQ, energy efficiency, and Passive House design. Sharing how to integrate these practices into everyday design and how even small steps, a desire for change, and a positive mindset can all contribute to a more sustainable world and lead to healthier lifestyles.
@turettcollaborative
MODERATOR:
DAVID SANTIAGO – IFDA NY Chapter President
David Santiago is an award-winning designer and owner of Casa Santi Interior Design established in 2011. He caters to clients who seek the unique, creative details that elevate a project blending his traditional sensibility with the unexpected, known as his signature and trademark  “Santified”. His Strictly Santi brand was created as an umbrella brand, since then, David launched several products; a lighting collection with American Brass & Crystal Lighting and a wallpaper collection with Bijou wallcoverings entitled The Passport Collection, catering to hospitality and residential markets.  David continues to grow as a brand ambassador and give back through the media platforms as a guest designer on the NBC hit television series “George To The Rescue” and a design and lifestyle correspondent for “The Donna Drake Show” on CBS NY.
Fun fact about David: he is an accomplished classical opera singer, an alumni of Mannes College of Music. David is the Cultural Outreach Officer for Teatro Grattacielo and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the New York City Opera, among others.
@SomebodyGetMeSanti
 
Social Media:
@ifdany
@nassimillc
@nemotile
@turettcollaborative
@somebodygetmesanti
@hospidential
@ny_now

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Monday, August 8, 2022   5:30-7:30PM EDT

Cocktails, Conversation & Connections at Gallow Green

IN PERSON

at

The McKittrick Hotel Rooftop Bar

542 West 27th Street

Between 10th and 11th Avenues

Click Here to Register

Cash Bar
Bring Your Business Cards

Best Networking in Town!

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Wednesday, July 27, 2022   12 noon EDT

 

Join

Patti Carpenter, Global Trend Ambassador,

as she reviews the color, materials, prints and surface designs discovered at Maison & Objet’s latest edition.

Moderated by IFDA NY Chapter’s President, David Santiago.

Wednesday July 27th at Noon EDT

 on Zoom

Click Here to Register 

 

Patti Carpenter
Global Trend Ambassador
Patti is Principal of carpenter + company and an award- winning Designer in globally sourced home décor, accessories, fragrance and gifts, with experience in product design and development, merchandising and color + trend forecasting. As a Micro-Enterprise specialist with U.S. presidential recognition for domestic and international expertise in artisan development, small producer and entrepreneurial training and economic development  she has designed and sourced Private Label collections for Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel, The Phillips Collection, ABC Carpet and Home, Donna Karan Urban Zen and Ralph Lauren. She has worked in 57 countries. Patti is an expert in Color + Trend research and forecasting and consults with Pantone. She is the Global Trend Ambassador for Maison & Objet, Paris. She is an active board member of SERRV International-one of the founding organizations of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), BADG (Black Artists and Designer Guild), The High School of Fashion Industries and The Bienenstock Furniture Library, as well as the co-founder of the Kaleidoscope Project. Patti is also the recipient of the  Gift For Life Industry Achievement Award for 2021 and the Withit Industry Leadership Award for 2021 for the Kaleidoscope Project. 

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Wednesday, August 3, 2022   5:30 PM

Join  IFDA
and the 
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America  
to tour its newest educational initiative:
The Apartment
 
A full scale model studio residence designed to showcase ways individuals can make a  
home “dementia-friendly.”

 

Wednesday, August 3rd

5:30 PM EST  

IN PERSON

322 8th Ave.     7th Floor

New York City

Please bring a $20.00 Donation in Cash

or a check made out to

 to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)  

Click here to register  

IFDA Members Only.

Space is limited so RSVP quickly. 

The mission of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide, and fund research for better treatment and a cure.

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Wednesday, July 20, 2022   11:00 AM

The Five Critical and Simple Steps  
to Organizing Your Home with
Summer Rose
Learn the Five Critical and Simple Steps to Organizing Your Home with the founder of Star Organizers, Summer Rose. Summer will show you some wild before and afters, crazy stories, the best thing she has ever found in a client’s home, and great tips that you can start using today to get and stay organized!
Born and raised in Miami, Summer Rose graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Business Management and a double minor in Entrepreneurship and Communications. As a young girl, she jumped at the chance to organize her friends’ rooms – and still does! Her favorite thing to do was organize her aunt’s hair scrunchies, clips and makeup. Summer has been passionately organizing for over a decade!
Due to great demand for her organizational services, Summer realized how much she could improve people’s lives through these skills. As a result, Star Organizers was born. Summer currently resides and works in New York City and travels to organize clients’ homes all over the world. Clients have flown Summer out to 19 different states and six countries for her organizational expertise.
Summer not only helps you create effective strategies for your home and office, but she also helps you create effective strategies for your life. She teaches you how to effortlessly follow these strategies so your space and your life are consistently clutter free.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 

11:00 AM EST

On Zoom!

Click here to register 

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Wednesday, May 5, 2022   12:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click Here to Get the Link to Join

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022   12:00 PM

Join IFDA-NY Chapter President David Santiago

and members from Room & Board
and the brand’s commercial arm, Room & Board Business Interiors, over Zoom
for an insider’s view of the company’s sustainability and product development practices,
including first-of-its-kind Urban Wood Program.
Learn how the brand is taking an untapped, undervalued wood supply chain and making furniture on a national scale that’s timeless,enduring, and better yet-sustainable.
Speakers:
  • Gene Wilson, Vice President of Merchandising & Vendor Management for Room & Board
  • Emily McGarvey, Director of Sustainability for Room & Board,
  • Jenon Bailie, Merchandising & Design Director for Room & Board,
  • Elise Nicpon, Director of Business Customer Experience for Room & Board Business Interiors

Click Here to Register for the Link to Join

 

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Monday, April 25, 2022   6:30 PM

Meet Members

Nadine Homann, IFDA and Theresa Seabaugh, IFDA

ON ZOOM

Wednesday, April 20, 2022   12:00 PM

 

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Wednesday, March 9, 2022   11:00 AM

Macro Lifestyle Trends  

for 2022 and Beyond

Join Global Trend Ambassador,

Patti Carpenter,

as she discusses the lifestyle transformations

that have endured and advanced in design

for 2022 and beyond.

 

Patti is Principal of carpenter + company and an award-winning Designer in globally sourced home décor, accessories, fragrance and gifts, with experience in product design and development, merchandising and color + trend forecasting. As a Micro-Enterprise specialist with U.S. presidential recognition for domestic and international expertise in artisan development, small producer and entrepreneurial training and economic development she has designed and sourced Private Label collections for Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel, The Phillips Collection, ABC Carpet and Home, Donna Karan Urban Zen and Ralph Lauren. She has worked in 57 countries. 

Patti is an expert in Color + Trend research and forecasting and consults with Pantone. She is the Global Trend Ambassador for Maison & Objet, Paris. She is an active board member of SERRV International and BADG (Black Artists and Designer Guild), and the co-founder of the Kaleidoscope Project. Patti is also the recipient of the Gift For Life Industry Achievement Award for 2021 and the Withit Industry Leadership Award for 2021 for the Kaleidoscope Project.

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Wednesday, March 23, 2022   12:00 PM

Wednesday Webinar Series: 

It’s All About YOU!

Attend an international market;

present a program to promote your chapter and

increase visibility for you and IFDA among clients and colleagues;

research furniture design or textiles;

participate in a preservation project.

All of this can be for you, yes you, because of

Educational Foundation financial support available to you !

 As members of IFDA, you are automatically a member of the Educational Foundation with all the privileges it brings to you and your chapter.

Helen Wagner, Educational Foundation Chair,

will tell you more about how to open these doors at a webinar on

  

Wednesday, March 23, at noon.  (EST)

Presenter – Helen Wagner, IFDA Educational Foundation Chair

Moderator- David Santiago IFDA NY Chapter President

 

Helen Wagner, Educational  Foundation Chair, joined the New York Chapter of IFDA in  1993.  As Manager of  3M Public Relations in New York City, she led the efforts to support furniture and textile manufacturers throughout the world.

Helen  continues to be actively involved in the  IFDA New York Chapter and has served as chapter secretary as  well as on numerous committees.  Over the years, she was recipient of two of the chapter’s  prestigious  Circle of Excellence Awards – for Community Service and another for Public Relations.

After ten years in New York City, she moved back to 3M’s Global Headquarter in

Minnesota to lead  Public Relations for the  $32 billion company with operations  in 70 countries. She now divides her time between St Paul and New York City.

 Helen is also a lecturer at universities and professional organizations. A teacher at heart, she has been a university adjunct professor in business and management.  For more than 20 years, she has worked as a volunteer reading teacher for elementary school children to bring her mantra to life, “reading is freedom”.

David Santiago launched his design business Casa Santi Interior Design (www.CasaSanti.com) to cater to clients who seek the unique, creative details that elevate a project blending his traditional sensibility with the unexpected. His Strictly Santi brand was created in 2018 and since then, David launched several products; a lighting collection with American Brass & Crystal Lighting and a wallpaper collection entitled The Passport Collection, catering to hospitality and residential markets with Bijou wallcoverings.
David is known as the “Prince of Wallpaper” highlighting his ability to master the art of wallpaper application on every project. David is acknowledged by the High Point Market Authority as an influencer. Currently, David continues to give back through the media platforms as a design and lifestyle correspondent for “The Donna Drake Show” on CBS NY and guest designer on the NBC hit television series “George To The Rescue”.

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Monday, February 28, 2022   6:30 PM

Really

Get to know the IFDA members!

Networking at its BEST!

Monday February 28, 2022

6:30 PM EST

Meet Michelle Slovak, IFDA and Jennifer Munich, IFDA

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Monday, February 2, 2022   11:00 AM

MAXIMIZE YOUR BUSINESS

FOR PERSONAL USE

 

 

 

Sherri Skov

Financial Representative

Sherri.skov@cfsllc.com

C 203.232.3834

 

 

Robert Worgaftik, CLU ChFC, CFP, CLTC

General Agent

rworgaftik@cfsllc.com  860.677.2600 X623

www.cfsllc.com

For more information about event click here for our IFDA Calendar Listing

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Wednesday,  January 12, 2022, 11 AM

What makes an iconic American design?

Join Saana Baker of The Textile Eye

for a look at style-defining color and pattern,

from historical companies established during the

gilded age to mid-century masters,

to the cutting-edge designers defining the tastes of tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday,  January 12, 2022, 11 AM

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Click Here to join IFDA 

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IFDA NY THROUGH THE YEARS

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