A fashionable crowd of 500 descended upon the Carnegie Library for the third annual Fashion Fights Poverty runway show on Friday, coming together to check out the wares of nine designers who are morally minded when it comes to manufacturing. “It’s bigger every year,” said Fashion Fights Poverty creative director Michael Dumlao, who’s also a founder of the Style & Image Network, the public relations and event marketing firm that produces the event. “We’ve increased the number of designers every year, from four to six to nine. We’ve extended to Miami and the Hamptons. The brand is growing beyond D.C.”
The brand is also attracting big-time sponsors. This year, Maserati, Lamborghini, Whole Foods, West Elm, and Peroni all signed on. The mission of the event, however, remains the same: to raise awareness about how fashion can promote economic development and to benefit organizations that use art and design to alleviate poverty, like Aid to Artisans, 2007’s beneficiary. The fashion show ran just under two hours, with mini-presentations between each designer's showcase. Rows of West Elm-donated chairs flanked the stage, which was awash in hues of pink and purple courtesy of John Farr Lighting Design. A champagne reception for V.I.P.s took place prior to the show in the venue's Map Room, and guests could also roam the many vendor booths that lined the hallway.
The Edward Marc chocolate suite—complete with gratis FFP-logoed confections—and swag bags stuffed with Belabumbum underwear and Freixenet sparkling wine had guests talking, as did the male models clad in skimpy ChaCha Boy swimsuit briefs.
The brand is also attracting big-time sponsors. This year, Maserati, Lamborghini, Whole Foods, West Elm, and Peroni all signed on. The mission of the event, however, remains the same: to raise awareness about how fashion can promote economic development and to benefit organizations that use art and design to alleviate poverty, like Aid to Artisans, 2007’s beneficiary. The fashion show ran just under two hours, with mini-presentations between each designer's showcase. Rows of West Elm-donated chairs flanked the stage, which was awash in hues of pink and purple courtesy of John Farr Lighting Design. A champagne reception for V.I.P.s took place prior to the show in the venue's Map Room, and guests could also roam the many vendor booths that lined the hallway.
The Edward Marc chocolate suite—complete with gratis FFP-logoed confections—and swag bags stuffed with Belabumbum underwear and Freixenet sparkling wine had guests talking, as did the male models clad in skimpy ChaCha Boy swimsuit briefs.
![A Fashion Fights Poverty model.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2007/10/e9150standalone.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
A Fashion Fights Poverty model.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![A Fashion Fights Poverty model showcased the designs of Basia Frossard.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion24.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
A Fashion Fights Poverty model showcased the designs of Basia Frossard.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![The V.I.P. champagne reception was held in the Carnegie Library's Map Room, which features a glowing map of the district on the floor.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion13.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
The V.I.P. champagne reception was held in the Carnegie Library's Map Room, which features a glowing map of the district on the floor.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![Event sponsor WorkSpaces LLC supplied the white lounge furniture for the V.I.P. reception.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion11.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Event sponsor WorkSpaces LLC supplied the white lounge furniture for the V.I.P. reception.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![The glowing district floor map had guests at the V.I.P. cocktail reception talking.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
The glowing district floor map had guests at the V.I.P. cocktail reception talking.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![Guest chairs (with gift bags) lined the Fashion Fights Poverty runway.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion7.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Guest chairs (with gift bags) lined the Fashion Fights Poverty runway.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![Models wore Chacha Boy bathing suits.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion21.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Models wore Chacha Boy bathing suits.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![Chocolatier Edward Marc handed out samples at his chocolate suite, including FFP-logoed sweets.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion12.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Chocolatier Edward Marc handed out samples at his chocolate suite, including FFP-logoed sweets.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![Emperor's Brand vodka was one of several vodka sponsors.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion8.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Emperor's Brand vodka was one of several vodka sponsors.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![Lynyrd Skynyrd member Rickey Medlocke posed in front of the artful step-and-repeat.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion9.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Lynyrd Skynyrd member Rickey Medlocke posed in front of the artful step-and-repeat.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash
![A FFP-logoed Lamborghini—another of the evening's sponsors—was parked in front of the Carnegie Library.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e9150fashion3.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
A FFP-logoed Lamborghini—another of the evening's sponsors—was parked in front of the Carnegie Library.
Photo: Lara Shipley for BizBash