Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545722
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JULY 2026 NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT OF A CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS UNDER The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027 The Ministry for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection would like to announce that it is launching a call for project proposals in the following area: Specific Objective 1.1 – Strengthening economically, social and environmentally sustainable fishing activities. This call shall be open to MFA and MFB licensed fishers and shall specifically focus on investments on board fishing vessels, without increasing their fishing capacity, to target energy efficiency and quality of catches. The call also targets: 1. The improvement of health, safety and working conditions on board fishing vessels; 2. The effects of climate change and improving the energy efficiency of fishing vessels; 3. Improving the added value or quality of fish caught by allowing fishers to carry out investments on board that improve the quality of the fishing products; 4. Investments aimed at improving cold-chain management and onboard handling/storage beyond minimum requirements; 5. Equipment improving size selectivity or species selectivity of fishing gear; 6. Equipment that eliminates discards by avoiding and reducing unwanted catches of commercial stocks. Applications should be submitted electronically on Structural Funds Database available at sfd.gov.mt/application by not later than 30 th September, 2025 at noon. The online application form for the submission of project proposals and supporting documentation are available on http://fondi.eu/what-funding-is-available/emfaf-call-investments-on-board-fishing- vessel/. Any queries should be sent by email on fondi.eu@gov.mt. American fashion designer Fern Mallis attends Malta Fashion Week AMERICAN fashion director Fern Mallis, the woman credited with creating New York Fashion Week in its current format, be- lieves size is not a barrier to in- ternational success. She insists talent, originality and authenticity are what ulti- mately decide whether a fashion scene or designer achieves glob- al recognition. Mallis was speaking to Malta- Today while in Malta as a guest of the US Embassy, which is marking America's 250 anniver- sary of independence. She will be attending the Malta Fashion Week that will be held between 6 and 9 July. Mallis said the island can achieve the same opportuni- ty as any other fashion capital if it nurtures creative talent. "I think the same qualities that any fashion week stands out for are talent, authenticity, passion and originality," Mallis said. "That's what people are looking for." She said that regardless of where a person lives, genuine talent will always inevitably rise to the surface. "There are people around the world who seek that out... You find talent. It surfaces. You can't keep it down." Mallis is widely recognised as the architect of modern New York Fashion Week. She re- counted how the global event was born almost by accident after part of a ceiling collapsed during a Michael Kors runaway show, with plaster falling on models and front-row journal- ists. Fashion critics famously re- sponded by writing that they "live for fashion" but did not "want to die for it", prompting Mallis to rethink how the indus- try staged its shows. "I think my job description just changed," she recalled. "I was not hired to organise a fashion week." This incident ultimately led to the creation of the now-iconic Bryant Park tents, transforming New York into a fashion capital capable of competing with Paris, Milan and London. Looking back on her career, Mallis said the first sound check inside Bryant Park was one of the defining moments of her life. She also recalled the un- precedented challenge of shut- ting down fashion week follow- ing the 11 September attacks in 2001. "We were also doing fashion week in the tents when 9-11 happened... It was horrifying," she said. Turning to aspiring designers, Mallis said technical skill alone was not enough. Her greatest piece of advice? Be nice. "The advice I give everybody throughout my entire career is first and foremost, be nice," she said, warning against entitle- ment and diva behaviour. Mallis said, beyond attitude, designers also need legal pro- tection, financial backing and relentless determination to sur- vive in an industry increasing- ly shaped by social media and e-commerce. "It's a blessing and a nightmare," she said of social media. She argued that while digital platforms have democ- ratised exposure, they have also intensified competition. However, while still learning about Malta's fashion scene, Mallis said she is eager to meet local designers during the Mal- ta Fashion Week and explore all the island has to offer. MaltaToday also had a chance to speak to Malta Fashion Week founder Adrian J. Mizzi, who said the local industry's devel- opment has been decades in the making, beginning with the creation of the Malta Fashion Awards. At the time he admit- ted, "there was no fashion" in- dustry to speak of. Mizzi said the awards were deliberately designed to push hairstylists, make-up artists and designers to improve their skills by studying abroad and collabo- rating professionally, laying the foundations for today's indus- try. Mizzi said Malta's fashion sector remains young, with la- bels such as Charles & Ron and menswear brand Gagliardi among its biggest international success stories, but argued the country's historic venues have given Malta Fashion Week a dis- tinctive identity. The Malta Fashion Week will be held between Monday 6 July and Thursday 9 July at the Bis- kuttin Garden in Floriana LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt American fashion director Fern Mallis (Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday)