About Lisa
Lisa Mainardi has been an integral member of the Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture team from 2016 - 2021 where she was an event coordinator, writer, webmaster, social media manager, and sponsorship solicitor. Known as an innovator, collaborator, and promoter, Lisa conceptualized and help to bring to fruition events and initiatives including the Maplewood Film Society, Windows For Women, Headshots for Women, Artist Spotlight Series, Smooth Jazz NJ Series, and Sankofa – A Celebration of Black History, and was instrumental in the success of Women in Music Concert, Village Sunset Music Concert Series, Springfield Avenue Gazebo Concert Series, Black History Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and more. The township honored Lisa in a 2021 Township Committee Meeting for her dedication in putting together a successful Women’s History Month Celebration.
Lisa has a reputation of giving back to her community and is a big supporter of good causes such as Make-A-Wish foundation, sock drives and helping the food insecure. In 2021 she baked and sold sour dough bread to raise money for MEND (Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity). Committed to education, Lisa has collaborated with the Power Club, Student Council and Environmental Club at Columbia High School to bring informative events, films, discussions, and student spotlights to the Community. An advocate for students and artists through mentorships, sponsorships, awards and fundraisers Lisa provides opportunities for enrichment and growth. In cooperation with the Fashion Institute of Technology, Lisa created and produced Forward Leap Network, an innovative platform and launching stage for promising students and recent graduates of distinguished design institutions to introduce themselves to seasoned professionals seeking fresh talent. With Maplewood Arts & Culture, Lisa researched, wrote and published Artist Spotlights via web and social media on local artists, artisans and youth.
As the founder and producer of DIRECTION, the #1 Textile Design Show in America, Lisa Mainardi was instrumental in forming alliances and targeting marketing which enhanced the rapid speed at which DIRECTION grew to become a leading force in the textile and fashion design industries. Launching DIRECTIONMarketplace.com, a virtual trade show in 2003, Lisa powered the most comprehensive online source and e-commerce site, a total business-to-business connection relevant to the needs and inter-workings of the fashion design community.
A protector of the environment, sustainability, health and wellness, Lisa founded and hosted within DIRECTION: SOS Sourcing ⎯ Show Of Sustainable Sourcing; SOS Series ⎯ Seminars on Sustainability Series; Center-For-Sustainability to cultivate awareness of environmental, economic sustainability, and social consciousness; and the LIGHT & LIFE Style Center, a matrix of references and products to support health, well-being and creativity in the design community.
The first executive in the industry to create a Print Trends Overview for INPRINTS NY, Lisa is well known for her directional, unique presentations. With experience and expertise in forecasting, Lisa produced the exclusive SURFACE Seminar Series at DIRECTION, where the world’s best forecasters and experts shared their ideas and insight with the fashion industry. On the cutting edge, Lisa also produced and curated trend displays, trend videos and season-specific trend edition booklets. As Director of the American Trend & Color Committee for The Larkin Group and then Advanstar/Magic International, Lisa directed a committee of over 25 forecasting leaders to analyze and edit raw color and trend information and then present it on behalf of the committee at numerous industry events, trade shows and educational institutions around the United States. In 2008, Lisa sold DIRECTION and all its divisions to Premiere Vision, the world’s most prestigious international textile and textile design trade show.
Former associations include: Maplewood Township, Magic International, The Larkin Group, The International Fashion Fabric Exhibition, Design Options LLC, DG Expo, The Doneger Group, Cotton Incorporated, Lindsay Phillips, The Color Table, Margit Publications, Promostyl UK, Here & There and CMT.