KZ_K STUDIO BRINGS TOGETHER WOMEN IN POLITICS, FASHION, AND JOURNALISM FOR A PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT + FEMALE EMPOWERMENT, BENEFITING THE ERA COALITION

Contact: Melissa Veniero Ciavirella, Melissa@mvccommunications.com

New York, NY - Jan 31, 2024 KZ_K Studio, a luxury slow fashion ready-to-wear brand, made-in NYC,  has joined forces with the ERA Coalition to bring together powerful female leaders from the worlds of fashion, politics, and the ERA Coalition for a panel discussion and fundraiser on February 7, 2024 from 6-8pm at their studio on Great Jones Street in New York City. 

Panelists include the Honorable Carolyn Maloney, ERA Coalition board chair and former NY Congresswoman, Zakiya Thomas, President of the ERA Coalition, Karolina Zmarlak, Creative Director of KZ_K STUDIO, a woman-owned fashion label designed and made in NYC, Maggie McGrath, Editor of Forbes Women and "Know Your Value" team and Andrea Bossi, Journalist at Fashionista and Forbes music contributor (moderator). Discussions will center around gender equality issues, how to close the pay gap, and how fashion is an important element of women's strength and power while also highlighting topics on women's rights, female entrepreneurship, and female empowerment. 

"We're excited to have discussions on gender equality, the pay gap, and female entrepreneurship particularly in the fashion industry with our friends at KZ_K Studio and Mika Brzezinski's Know Your Value. They're bringing a completely new audience to the conversation," said Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the ERA Coalition/Fund for Women's Equality.

As a former NY Congresswoman, Maloney has been heavily involved in moving this amendment forward. She shares “During my time in Congress, I have fought to secure equality under the law for women and people of all marginalized genders. The Equal Rights Amendment has been nearly one hundred years in the making and would ensure that all people who face discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual violence, workplace harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and unequal pay are finally given full and equal standing under the law. 

Karolina Zmarlak, Fashion Designer and Co-Founder of KZ_K Studio learned about the ERA Coalition through Maloney, a friend and client. Zmarlak shares “Honestly, since I immigrated from Poland to the United States in 1992, I was never really aware of the ERA, or its profound and focused message until we attended an event held with our dear friend, Hon. Carolyn Maloney. After learning more about it, I wanted to get involved in whatever way I could. I’m excited to bring together such an incredible group of women to discuss these important gender equality issues and raise awareness and funds that are needed to help push this amendment forward to the finish line.” The ERA Coalition works for the passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment which states “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”

KZ_K Studio co-founder, Jesse Keyes shares “I’ve been aware and supportive of the ERA, ever since it was passed by Congress, in 1972 (coming just after my birth), while my mother was involved in its initial awareness campaign and efforts to ratify. You could say, I have been aware and in support of its ratification my whole life.

Tickets start at $200 each and can be purchased through FundForWomensEquality.org/fashionfundraiser. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the education arm of the ERA Coalition, the Fund for Women's Equality.

The ERA Coalition is a movement of movements that has unified a coalition of nearly 300 organizations who together represent over 80 million champions for sex equality. Composed of organizations fighting for everything from gender, racial, economic, and reproductive justice, to labor and LGBTQ+ rights, ERA Coalition partners are united under one powerful banner; to advance equality for all, at all levels; local, state and federal. 

Attendees will enjoy bubbly and light bites, followed by the panel discussion. They will also receive $200 off any KZ_K Studio purchase that evening, with an additional 10% of sales being donated to the ERA.

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About the ERA Coalition
The ERA Coalition is a movement of movements that has unified a coalition of nearly 300 organizations that together represent over 80 million champions for sex equality. Composed of organizations fighting for everything from gender, racial, economic and reproductive justice, to labor and LGBTQ+ rights, ERA Coalition partners are united under one powerful banner; to advance equality for all, at all levels; local, state and federal.  

About KZ_K Studio
Founded in 2009 by Polish-born fashion designer, Karolina Zmarlak and her business and life partner, a trained architect, and entrepreneur, Jesse Keyes, this NYC —based and made—in—collection is steeped in the tenets of modernism. Efficiency and versatility are guiding principles, minimizing excess and maximizing utility. The KZ_K design discipline is undergirded by multi-functionality: technically and precisely developed for the convertibility or full reversibility of collection pieces. KZ_K Studio focuses on responsible manufacturing, client relationships and mindful wardrobes that minimize ornamentation, bypass trends, and are constructed for a lifetime of use

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