NEW CONCEPT IN SHOPPING SUPPORTS NON-PROFITS
Fundraising-in-Style Announces Launch Party
Proceeds Benefit Fourth Arts Block Cultural District
The current economic downturn has been hard on non-profits, independent designers and fashion divas alike!Fundraising-In-Style a newly formed organization, launches a great way to join forces so everybody wins. This launch party, just in time for Valentine’s Day, kicks-off a series of fun, distinctively organized, wallet stretching, discount shopping events – matching established and emerging independent designers with New York City non-profits and consumers looking to stretch their dollars.
Fourth Arts Block (FAB) Manhattan’s only cultural district, is the first host and beneficiary of this shopping event – with 10% of all sales to aid in the development of theater, dance and music in this most exciting gem of New York City’s East Village – The East 4th Street Cultural District.
The convergence of fun takes place in the generously donated space:
New York Theater Workshop 79 East 4th Street
Thursday, February 5, 2009 5:30pm to 9pm
The goods include stylish clothing and accessories by more than a dozen designers that usually sell in high-end boutiques, original artwork, and heart warming hot chocolate from 4th Street’s own Bond Street Chocolate. And, all guests receive a free FAB Pass for discount access to shows in the East 4th Street Cultural District, the year long! Don’t miss this chance to eat, drink, mingle, shop, learn about this vibrant East Village mainstay and help relieve NYC artists from our economic slump! (www.fabnyc.org <http://www.fabnyc.org/> ).
Participants: Lara Kazan, Bellissimma, Frida’s Closet designed by Sandra Paez, MissWit Deborah Goldstein, Ditu designed by Layla Abramowitz, Meiling Chen, Leo Works designed by Nicole Gagne, Judith Haas and artist, Mauro Baiocco.
About Fundraising in Style Designers take matters in to their own hands and create a series of shopping events that work in today’s economic climate. What could be a better way to encourage people to shop then to have a fun evening with music, drinks, and high-end clothing and accessories at discounted prices, while simultaneously supporting a great cause? Fundraise-in-Style plans on doing similar events throughout the year with different non-profit organizations in a variety of venues so that shoppers from all over the city have a chance to purchase both their spring and fall collections at wallet friendly prices. We will keep you posted on our upcoming events.
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The Designers
1. LARA KAZAN www.larakazan.com
Lara Kazan’s luxury line of knitwear is full of versatility. Pieces perfect for layering in this unpredictable weather, from leg warmers (almost more boot than legwarmer), capes, to knit dresses and fingerless arm warmers…she’s got you covered!
2. MEILING CHEN www.meilingchen.com
Meiling’s clothes explore the relationship between fashion, visual design and art. Her clothes often have a sculptural quality that interweaves modern and historical cultural elements and integrates the masculine and the feminine. All the garments and accessories are made in NY with organic materials, love and care.
3. DITU www.dituonline.com
Designer Layla Abramowitz label DITU is known for innovating the knit corset on a sweater machine and blending the constructions with couture techniques – exquisitely crafted. The collection offers a range of shrugs, skirts, dresses, jackets, sweaters, and bustiers that emulate industrial architectural shapes and structures in their texture and silhouette, resulting in innovative yet functional pieces worn by today’s chic modern woman.
4. MISSWIT DESIGNS www.misswit.net
Miss Wit designs whimsical, satirical, fashionable tees that capture the pop-cultural zeitgeist and embrace the humor, irony and elemental beauty of daily living. Her work has been seen in publications from People Magazine to Entrepreneur.com
5. FRIDA’S CLOSET
Sandra Paez’s a native Mexican designer, with her line and store Frida’s Closet was a pioneer in the vitalization of now famed Smith Street, in Brooklyn. Her current line of T-shirts expand on her signature use of art on cloth, combining vibrant colors, Mexican and folkloric patterns with a modern fit.
6. BELLISSIMA www.bellissimacollection.com
The jewelry line by family-run company, Bellissima by Moschitto Designs is hand-made in NY of Italian resin. Our line is heavily influenced by the past (art deco/bakelite/costume jewelry heyday) with a modern wearable twist.
7. Leo Works, designed by Nicole Gagne www.leoworks.com <http://www.leoworks.com>
Leoworks is a modern jewelry company committed to the craft, it’s jewelry distinctively artistic yet never outside the circle of fashion. Based in New York City; known for innovation and ambition, was founded in 2002. Leoworks’ designs are constantly evolving because enhancing the beauty of raw materials is an infinitive palette.
8. Judith Haas www.judithhaas.com <http://www.judithhaas.com>
Handmade jewelry with semiprecious stones inspired by the architecture of Antoni Gaudi. Made in Brooklyn out of bronze, sterling silver or 10k gold by Dutch designer Judith Haas.
9. Mauro Baiocco www.naughtyandnice.etsy.com
Mauro Baiocco, is an Argentinian artist who has developed an avid following and presence in the New York City street artist scene. His mixed media paintings are influenced by a magical blending of interests ranging from the whimsical child like characters of fairy tales to the edgy, dark and complex textural influences of Victorian and Quaker fashion, Steampunk, Mexican Retablos and sideshow and circus culture.
ABOUT FOURTH ARTS BLOC (www.fabnyc.org)
In October 2005, Mayor Bloomberg officially designated East 4th Street a Cultural District – one of two in the City – and sold 8 properties to the long time cultural groups for $8. To date, FAB and partners have raised more than $16 million to renovate the cultural facilities and half a million for streetscape improvements.
With 17 performance and multi-media venues, the district already offers one of the most vibrant concentrations of cultural organizations in the city. When the district’s cultural plan is complete, space for artists and arts organizations will nearly double.
As the district’s leadership organization, FAB is working to preserve and advance the district’s dynamic artistic environment by developing the properties into permanent homes for the arts, leading centralized projects that provide a model for sustainable development, directing marketing and promotion efforts, and supporting the capacity of its members.
FAB’s members include: Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance, Cooper Square Committee, Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, Creative Time, Downtown Art, Duo Multicultural Arts Center, La MaMa E.T.C., Millennium Film Workshop, New York Theatre Workshop, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Teatro Circulo, Teatro IATI, Works in Progress, and WOW Café Theatre.
ABOUT NEW YORK THEATER WORKSHOP (www.nytw.org)
A remarkable off-Broadway theatre noted for its acclaimed and innovative productions… a workshop where artists create new work, hone their craft and collaboratively explore theatre… all rooted in our cozy East Village digs located in the heart of New York’s downtown arts scene. NYTW is committed to the development of innovative theatre by supporting theatre artists at all stages of their careers, providing an environment where work can be created free from the artistic compromise and forbidding financial demands often associated with commercial ventures. Over the past two decades, NYTW has evolved to become a significant force in New York City’s vibrant cultural landscape and is now recognized as one of the leading producing theatres of original work in the United States.
