OVERVIEW
Raul Avila, who spent 14 years working for Robert Isabell, went out on his own in 2004 and quickly made a name for himself, working on lavish fetes for Marc Jacobs, the Frick Collection, and Imperia Vodka. Avila focuses on raw and natural materials, making floral designs a large part of the event, but never in an overwhelming way. For the Costume Institute’s 2008 benefit, Avila drew from the exhibit “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” and placed 20-foot-tall painted foam statues of iconic comic characters in the museum’s great hall. He also re-created Superman’s icy Fortress of Solitude in the dinner area, using white lights and faux ice crystals.
