It may have been raining outside 495 Broadway last Thursday evening, but inside the SoHo building, which houses 6397 designer Stella Ishii’s cult fashion showroom The NEWS, the 6397 x Creative Growth fashion show was just warming up.
Hosted by PAPER’s Kim Hastreiter and Mickey Boardman, alongside Ishii and Creative Growth’s recently announced Executive Director Sunny A. Smith, the evening brought together supporters of the Oakland-based nonprofit, which champions artists with disabilities—and Ishii’s sleek cult label for an unorthodox take on an annual fundraiser that has become a staple of both the art and fashion calendars. The result? A makeshift runway featuring a one-of-a-kind collection of minimalist silhouettes adorned with jubilant artworks by the organization’s artists.
A colorfully dressed group of guests browsed limited-edition pieces, home items, and wearable art developed by Creative Growth’s artists before the covetable looks traveled down the runway on New York creatives of all stripes. For CULTURED, a selection of the night’s revelers reflected on the event’s embrace of creativity without limits.
Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, fashion designer
“This is my favorite runway show of the year. It’s such a beautiful way to support these incredible artists.”
Bobbi Salvör Menuez, artist and actor
“It’s really cool to work with an organization that uses creative work as cultural medicine.”
Stella Ishii, designer
“I’ve always collected independent art, so when I became familiar with Creative Growth, it felt very natural for me to dive further and further in.”
Sunny A. Smith, Creative Growth executive director and Mickey Boardman, PAPER Magazine editorial director
“We have a beautiful community of artists and staff working interdependently to support the art and careers of an incredible roster of artists.”—Smith
“Everytime I go to Creative Growth in Oakland, I cry because it’s such an inspiration. I’m working with a charity in India, and we’re actually building a school inspired by Creative Growth.”—Boardman
Kim Hastreiter, PAPER Magazine co-founder
“I’d say half of my art collection is from Creative Growth. My biggest accomplishment is helping to get them into the Museum of Modern Art!”
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