Fashion Industry Reaches Out for Hurricane Victims
The local fashion industry continues to mount a variety of relief efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
One of the main events will be the California Designers’ Bayou Benefit sample sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 30–Oct. 1 on the 11th floor of the Cooper Design Space in Los Angeles, which will fill with garments from local designers and brands such as Trina Turk, Sue Wong, Mason by Michelle Mason, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Warnaco, American Apparel and others. The California Fashion Association, California Apparel News, Los Angeles Fashion District, Cooper Design Space and Warnaco Swimwear are sponsoring the sale and all proceeds will benefit the hurricane victims through the American Red Cross.
Other members of the industry are also contributing to the effort. Rebecca Bacon of Rebecca & Tom Sales in the California Market Center and Adrianne Phillips of the Basix showroom in The New Mart have formed the Fashion Industry Relief Effort (FIRE) and have collected mountains of clothing and toiletries, which were recently trucked off to the Gulf. The campaign is continuing in the lobby of the CMC, the main collection point for donations.
“This went beyond our expectations,” said Bacon. “We’ve met so many nice people out of this. Dr. David Lee [owner of the CMC] has really helped out by printing up flyers. We hope to help out other causes besides this one down the road.”
Trade organization Fashion Business Inc., located in The New Mart, is planning an upcoming sample sale on the eBay auction Web site and is seeking branded goods.
Other events include:
bull; Creative Caring sample sale and silent auction will be held Sept. 25 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at HIS, 3630 Eastham Dr., Culver City. Designer lines include Juicy Couture, D&G, Cavalli, J Mendel, Dior, Diane Von Furstenberg and more. Proceeds will benefit the Dream Center in Los Angeles, which is helping 250 displaced New Orleans area families. Call (310) 558-7100.
bull; Designer Jacquelyne Love and husband Mike Love of The Beach Boys are planning a private Katrina benefit fashion show and concert Oct. 10 in Los Angeles. The Beach Boys are also putting on a public Katrina relief concert with Frankie Valli at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 25.
bull; L.A. jewelry designer Erica Courtney and tennis champ Serena Williams in conjunction with the WTA Tour are auctioning off Williams’ $40,000 diamond chandelier earrings worn during the recent U.S. Open at www.tenniskatrina.com. Bidding ends Sept. 25.
bull; Andre Harper of Spode Way Productions is hosting Urban Elegance, a silent auction and fashion show at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at The Celebrity Centre, 5930 Franklin Ave. in Hollywood. Designers showing include Girlie-Designs, Pink Cookies, Nicola, Patois, Bel Megana and 063 Menswear. Jazz musician Dirk Kay will perform and Monie-Mon (comicview comedian) will host. Proceeds will go to The Red Cross of America Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and The T.Y.M.E. Foundation, an inner city enrichment program. Call (818) 848-3667 or (408) 829-5100.
bull; Angeleno magazine was scheduled to host A Night of Fashion Sept. 22 at Elegance in Hollywood where designer labels J. Lazaro, Sashe Wear and Nathalie Anne were scheduled to be featured on the runway.
bull; Designer Jalian Johnston held a fundraiser Sept. 20 at the Hollywood Trading Company, where organic clothing and other sustainable items were auctioned off and more than $4,000 was raised for hurricane relief. Sponsors included Vegan Glory, The Mint, Taste of the Goddess Cafeacute;, Buddha’s Belly, Cafeacute; Tartine, and POM Wonderful along with Stockholm Kristall Vodka, Stella Artois, Fiji Water and Ona Spa/Prive.
bull; The Dallas Market Center is offering travel aid to retailers in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina as part of a program called Operation Re- Store. Retailers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama will be offered a special travel relief package to help them attend trade events at Dallas Market Center. Interested parties should call (800) 325- 6587 for information. In downtown Dallas, the Fashion Industry Gallery wholesale mart also conducted a clothing drive for The Rogue, a Jackson, Miss.–based retailer, which is distributing goods to victims in the region.
—Robert McAllister
