On September 6, at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, The Museum at FIT (MFIT) held its annual Couture Council Luncheon, honoring sustainability trailblazer Gabriela Hearst. Hearst, creative director of her namesake brand and French luxury fashion house Chloé, received the 2023 Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award.
“Just when I thought I couldn’t feel any more special or get more emotional,” Hearst said, “I get this honor from one of the most renowned fashion institutions in the world.”
FIT President Joyce F. Brown and MFIT Director Valerie Steele both gave a warm welcome to guests. Jamie Nordstrom, chief stores officer of Nordstrom, shared remarks expressing pride in Nordstrom’s support of FIT and its up-and-coming, creative talent.
“Gabriela Hearst has positioned herself as an eco-conscious designer who believes creating aspirational sustainable fashion is possible, and she has achieved this with each collection,” Dr. Brown said. “Her vision—that a fashion brand can be successful while meeting social and environmental performance standards—has been validated by the growth of Chloé under her creative leadership. The students at FIT are aspiring designers with a sustainability mindset, and she is an inspiration to them. It is our honor to recognize her sustainability work and contribution to the world of fashion.”
Hearst was presented with the award, a golden spool of thread, by former tennis pro Maria Sharapova and Daniel Humm, chef and owner of the restaurant group Make It Nice, which includes the award-winning Eleven Madison Park. Hearst will give a talk to students on campus as honorees have done in the past. The date and time will be announced shortly.
Dr. Steele presented The Museum at FIT student award to Stella Hobart, an Art History and Museum Professions major, for her dedication to museum work.
Presented by Nordstrom, the luncheon was co-chaired by Lara Meiland-Shaw and Melissa Mafridge Mithoff, chair and vice chair of the Couture Council’s Board of Directors respectively. The event, which is scheduled each year as a kickoff to New York Fashion Week, benefits The Museum at FIT.
Notable event attendees included Candace Bushnell, Alina Cho, Ana Cruz Kayne, Wawa Gatheru, Bethann Hardison, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Fern Mallis, Nicole Miller, Johanna Ortiz, Hal Rubenstein, Ramona Singer, Martha Stewart, Dana Thomas, Elizabeth von der Goltz, Nicole Warne, and Ali Wentworth.
Visit the gallery below for a collection of photos from the event; find even more coverage and photos on the museum’s website.
