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7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2026 COMMERCIAL The woman behind New York Fashion Week US anniversary celebration at The Phoenicia Malta MALTA'S fashion calendar welcomed a special guest this July, when Fern Mallis – the fashion director known as the 'Godmother of American Fash- ion' and credited as the creator of New York Fashion Week – visited the island. Fern Mallis' visit was or- ganised by the US Embassy in Malta in partnership with The Phoenicia Malta and with the support of Malta Fashion Week, a Freedom 250 event in celebration of America's 250th anniversary. The Phoenicia Malta, Malta's first five-star hotel at the gates of Valletta, greeted Ms Mallis for a stay that mixed diplomacy with Mediterranean hospitality. General Manager Robyn Pratt hosted a dinner in her honour at Contessa, the hotel's flag- ship restaurant, while the Malta Tourism Authority arranged a day's tour of the island. The Phoenicia Malta also wel- comed members of the press, figures from Malta's fashion industry and other esteemed guests – among them British High Commissioner Victoria Busby, Indian High Commis- sioner Rachita Bhandari, US Ambassador Somers Farkas and Malta Fashion Week founder Adrian J Mizzi – to a breakfast event to laud American fashion excellence, with Ms Mallis as guest of honour. Maltese broadcaster Steph- anie Spiteri led the conversa- tion with Ms Mallis, moving from her early career, through her decade at the helm of the Council of Fashion Designers of America that gave rise to New York Fashion Week, to her in- terview series, Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis. Ms Mallis also shared what she views as real potential for Malta's fash- ion industry to grow, including through design and distribu- tion partnerships with the US. Asked what advice she gives designers on how to succeed in the industry, she answered: "Be nice. There are many talented designers, but it's much easier to work with someone who is nice – especially when you're working alongside them for long hours." It is, she explained, advice she has repeated so often over the years that it has be- come something of a signature line. As a proud sponsor of Malta Fashion Week, The Phoenicia Malta is also home to the Mal- ta Fashion Week 2026 Inter- national Fashion Photography Exhibition in the hotel's Palm Court Lounge. Curated by Adri- an J Mizzi, the exhibition brings together editorial, runway and conceptual photography from acclaimed Maltese and interna- tional photographers to capture the artistry behind the world of fashion. Mannequins from designers' collections also re- mained on display throughout Malta Fashion Week. "To welcome the woman who shaped modern fashion, along- side such distinguished compa- ny, was a privilege for this ho- tel and for Malta," says Robyn Pratt, General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta. "Ms Mallis' visit reflects exactly the kind of partnership between culture, diplomacy and hospitality that this island does best, and we thank the US Embassy for this opportunity." Ms Mallis joined the opening night of Malta Fashion Week, held just outside the hotel's gates, and met exhibiting stu- dent designers who had the rare opportunity to share their designs with the 'Godmother of American Fashion' in person. For more information about The Phoenicia Malta, visit www.phoeniciamalta.com. Mapfre Middlesea plc becomes Mapfre Malta plc MAPFRE Middlesea p.l.c. today announced that the company has officially changed its name to Mapfre Malta p.l.c. The name change forms part of the company's ongoing strategic alignment with the broader objec- tives of the Mapfre Group. As the Group continues to strengthen its presence in an increasingly inte- grated international environment, the adoption of the Mapfre Malta name reinforces the company's identity as part of a leading glob- al insurance organisation, while clearly reflecting its longstanding commitment to the Maltese mar- ket. Commenting on the change, CEO Etienne Sciberras said: "The new name represents both continuity and progress. It posi- tions the business to better lever- age the strength, scale, expertise and innovation of the Mapfre Group, while continuing to pro- vide the high standards of service that customers in Malta have come to expect." At the same time, the company acknowledges the deep heritage associated with the Middlesea name. For generations, Middlesea has been synonymous with insur- ance in Malta and has earned a trusted place among customers, employees, shareholders and busi- ness partners. Its legacy is built on trust, resilience, professionalism and service excellence. Mr Sciberras added: "This change marks an important mile- stone in our journey. We honour the heritage of Middlesea and the significant role it has played in shaping our organisation. At the same time, adopting the Mapfre Malta name better reflects our position within the global Map- fre family and our vision for the future. What remains unchanged is our unwavering commitment to serving our clients, partners and communities in Malta with the same dedication, care and relia- bility that have always been at the core of our business." For customers and business partners, the transition is a change in name only. The company's op- erations, commitments and dedi- cation to delivering trusted insur- ance solutions remain unchanged. Mapfre Malta p.l.c. looks for- ward to building on its strong foundations as it continues to sup- port customers and contribute to the Maltese market under its new name, while proudly carrying for- ward the legacy of Middlesea into the future. The Farsons Beer Festival returns next week for its 44th edition THE Farsons Beer Festival re- turns to Ta' Qali National Park next week, kicking off its 44th edition on Thursday, 23 July 2026 and running through to Saturday, 1 August. A highlight of Malta's summer calendar, the 10-day festival has become one of the island's most ea- gerly anticipated events, attracting thousands of locals and tourists each year for a unique blend of great beer, live music, en- tertainment and family-friendly experiences. Festivalgoers can enjoy an ex- tensive selection of beers proud- ly brewed in Malta, alongside a range of premium imported in- ternational brands. Visitors have a selection of more than 40 locally brewed and imported beers, in- cluding ciders, craft beer and glu- ten-free options. This year the Festival is once again offering an extended bev- erage menu with the addition of Aperol Spritz, Kinnie Spritz and Kinnie Rumba, Jagermeister and Jameson Whisky. The line-up of artists and bands on the Main Stage includes some of Malta's most popular perform- ers, such as Tribali, Lapes u Na- dine, Glen and Amber, Ivan Grech & Band and The Travellers. This year the Main Stage will also host three international tribute bands, Beatlemania, Spirit of Smokie and Supersonic Queen. The Rock Stage pro- gramme features a strong line-up of established rock bands such as RUG, Fakawi, BNI, Club- Murder, Dripht and many others as well as several newcomers to the Maltese rock scene. Casa Electronica, a dedicated dance area, features a selection of Malta's top DJs including J Joy, Tenishia, Ruby, Miggy and more. The relaxed chillout zone, Craft Beer Area, features a wide range of beers from craft breweries in- cluding Red Mill Brewing Co, Birra Baladin, Bellfield Brewery, St Austell Brewery, The Husk- ie Craft Beer Company, Lord Chambray Brewery and TOBCo. This dedicated area offers laid- back vibes featuring an eclectic line-up of various international and local bands and artists such as Filipino Fiesta by Moonlit, Vai Brasil! by Grupo Jogando Samba, Motown Special by Sean Kamati and many others. Families are well catered for with a dedicated Kids Area, while the ever-popular food court offers a wide variety of options through- out the festival. The official Farsons Beer Fes- tival commemorative beer mug, a sought-after collector's item among enthusiasts, will be availa- ble for purchase exclusively from bars while stocks last. Visitors can also explore the Ar- tisan Market, which returns with a variety of handmade products, unique creations and artisan cu- riosities. The Farsons Beer Festival is powered by EPIC, and supported by VisitMalta, Mapfre, Pepera- mi, Playcon, Algida, Magic, The Brewhouse, Transport Malta and Bolt. With a variety of parking op- tions, including the two large parking areas surrounding the park as well as the Park and Ride available at the Basketball Pavil- lion, visitors can put their mind at rest. Bars open at 8pm every night, entrance is free, and no tick- ets are required for entry. A full programme of all performances including timings is available on www.farsonsbeerfestival.com. Follow our socials for the latest news and updates.