CELA NY debut benefits New York Organ Donor Network

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Owner and designer Kelly Mayo with her new line

On September 6th at Sea Thai’s Moon Room in the HiLine District, Cela New York debuted their newest collection during Fashion’s Night Out 

With champagne and complimentary mini massages provided by Exhale Mind & Body Spa, guests enjoyed music by DJ Spyfno of Hot 97 and BET; and were able to pre-order a Cela New York bag with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the New York Organ Donor Network. Guests also had the opportunity to register as an organ donor.

All Cela New York products are produced in New York City. Ms. Mayo is adamant about advocating the preservation of the Garment District in Manhattan. Cela uses the highest quality of leather and handbag hardware materials that she took great care in sourcing in the United States. Ms. Mayo takes great pride in Cela New York being entirely manufactured in New York City and in ensuring all materials are produced within the USA.

Kelly with Organ recipients Kristy Fabrizi and Kelley Chaffee

This private event will mark the launch of the brand, and the newly designed website which includes a special piece called the “Ramon Traveler,” inspired by the designer’s father Ramon Mayo. Mr. Mayo has a LVAD heart device, which inspired the designer to donate to the NY Organ Donor Network, and to use her father in her marketing campaign.

“I choose the NY Organ Donor Network because my father has a Left Ventricular Assist Device. A good friend of mine, who I’ve also used in the campaign, is a 2-time cancer survivor. Because of what my family and friends have gone through, I thought it was important to draw awareness to becoming an organ donor,” said Kelly.

Here with NYODN Director of Communications
Julia Rivera and Strategic Marketing Manager
Angela Palmieri

James Pardes, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the New York Organ Donor Network expressed his gratitude, “Every 15 hours, a New Yorker dies waiting for an organ transplant. It doesn’t have to be this way. Because of Cela’s thoughtfulness and generosity, we will be able educate more New Yorkers about the miracle of organ donation, inspire them to register as organ donors, and ultimately save more lives. On behalf of the New York Organ Donor Network, and the nearly 10,000 New Yorkers awaiting a life-saving organ transplant, I want to express my deepest appreciation to Cela.”

Born and raised in New York, Ms. Mayo incorporates the vivacious style found on its notorious streets, but is also heavily influenced by the uncomplicated inherent style found in the women of Galicia, Spain. Cela, an old Galician family surname, combined with the name of the greatest city in the world seemed entirely fitting for the brand.

She founded Cela New York in 2010, with designs focused on creating clean and refined functional bags with sleek silhouettes and vintage inspiration, each collection is reminiscent of family and heirlooms while channeling the city's boisterous character.

Guests also had the opportunity to purchase a special collaborative heart necklace by “Melissa Molinar for Cela New York”. Ms Molinar is an industry veteran with 15 years of experience, and has worked with the likes of Mariah Carey and a number of other celebrities, which lead her to creating her very own jewelry and accessories line. A portion of necklace sales will also be donated to the New York Organ Donor Network, in efforts to raise awareness for the importance of becoming a donor.

The New York Organ Donor Network is the nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for the greater New York Metropolitan area. Established in 1978, the Donor Network is the second largest OPO in the United States, serving a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million people.