LOS ANGELES — The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles Fashion Gala — on the same weekend as the Oscars last month — managed to capture a sliver of the spotlight, attracting more than 800 people and raising $300,000 for the school’s scholarship foundation.
Among the industry guests were Lonnie and Karen Kane, owners of Karen Kane; Ilse Metchek, executive director of the California Fashion Association; Craig Israel, president of Robinsons-May, and his wife, Janey; designer Peter Cohen; Roger Williams, Warnaco Swim Group president, and Lee Bronson, former owner of Bronson of California, who is a scholarship donor.
The evening included the “Chairing Styles” exhibition of chairs and gowns created by design and fashion students from matching textiles and the work of students graduating from the theater costume design and fashion design advanced study programs.
Fashion designs from the 11 graduates-to-be ranged from the highly constructed Malaysian-inspired styles of Kok Wai Wong, using heaps of gold and ethnic prints, to the whimsical, ladylike ensembles featuring tablecloth patterns and eyelet lace from Season Hall. What was the mandate to young designers entering a consolidating retail world? “Stay creative,” Williams said.