The Couture Council of The Museum at FIT held its annual luncheon on Wednesday, September 7, honoring Thom Browne with the 2017 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.
The luncheon, held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, was co-chaired by Sharon Jacob and Kathy Prounis and raised $937,000, with all proceeds benefiting The Museum at FIT. This is the second-highest-grossing luncheon for the museum. FIT President Joyce F. Brown gave a warm welcome to an audience of 500 people, who gathered to celebrate Thom Browne’s contribution to the world of fashion.
Browne received his award from Whoopi Goldberg, who remarked “This man brings joy. He brings innovation. He brings the idea that you must be an individual and that you must stand for something…I am here because you inspire.”
Browne graciously accepted his award and commended FIT for always believing that fashion should inform, educate, inspire, and amaze. He stated, “You have now given me the responsibility to live up to this award and I hope I do not disappoint.”
Notable attendees included Brooke Shields, Martha Stewart, Ali Wentworth, Fern Mallis, Ken Downing, Glenda Bailey, Hamish Bowles, Joanna Coles, Eleanora Kennedy, Yaz Hernández, Audrey Gruss, Amsale Aberra, Joan Hornig, Liz Peek, Kamie Lightburn, Julie Macklowe, and Jean Shafiroff.
The annual luncheon kicks off New York Fashion Week. The Couture Council is a philanthropic membership group that helps support The Museum at FIT mount world-class exhibitions, to acquire important objects for its permanent collection, and to organize public programs. Exhibitions and programs are free and open to the public, and the museum and its holdings are used by FIT students in their coursework.