About Me

My name is Michal Lara Weinstein, otherwise known as MLWDESIGN. I am a former New Yorker from the 5 Towns, married with four children, and the owner of MLWDESIGN and Events 360. I am also the co-founder of Couture for a Cause. 

After graduating from Stern college and school of visual arts, I began my career in 1998 in fashion public relations for designer Elie Tahari. From there I moved on to web design and management and finally my true passion, graphic design. 

I launched MLWDESIGN LLC, a graphic design and promotional item company specializing in logos, branding, and print design in 2003. A few years later, I teamed up with Esther Berg to start Couture for a Cause, a non-profit organization producing innovative and creative fundraisers for various Jewish organizations, including Shlomzion, Puah, Chai Lifeline, Ohel, Renewal, and Sharsheret, as well as assisting local residents of the 5 Towns in need. Building on my successful experience in event planning, I launched Events 360 in 2017, offering a full range of creative services for events where I was able to combine my graphic design skills with party planning.
 

My expertise and behind-the-scenes glimpses into glamorous, colorful events garnered me a sizable following on social media under @events360ny and @mlwdesignny.

In 2019, following the tragic murder of Ari Fuld ZT”L, I created an image titled “The Lion of Zion,” which went viral and raised nearly $100,000 for his family and associated causes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I designed “KARANA,” an image calling for turning to G-d, which raised funds for families affected by the crisis. The pandemic marked a turning point for me when I began to question governmental responses and policies, leading me to shift my social media focus from strictly business to sharing my personal awakening and political views. I also started writing a memoir (still in the making) about surviving my father's tragic murder by the hands of cops working for the mob.

My social media content attracted followers who resonated with my story and stance, even as my @mlwdesignny account faced repeated cancellations due to censorship. In 2021, concerned about the erosion of freedoms in New York, I picked up my family and moved to Florida, though our true dream was to move to Israel. In Florida, I continued to share my journey through those difficult covid years, focusing on health and nutrition, and adopted the moniker “newbie holistic health nut.”

In 2023, we realized our dream of relocating to Israel and I paused the event planning part of my life to adjust to my new world. After the events of October 7, I created another impactful image titled “Victory to Redemption,” raising funds for the orphans affected by the tragedy, a cause close to my heart. I continue to manage my graphic design and promotional item business as well as Events 360 remotely while sharing my ongoing journey and thoughts on politics/health/spirituality and life on social media and hoping to finally finish my book.