Away from the hustle of Frieze Week in Los Angeles, CULTURED and Aritzia convened their communities for a dinner party. The iconic former Fred Segal store on Melrose Avenue—recently acquired by Aritzia—served as the ideal backdrop for an evening of conversation and inspiration. Exotic flowers lined a long table, tented with diaphanous fabric, in contrast to the Brutalist building. The effect created an oasis, as calm as the brand’s signature muted palette.
CEO Jennifer Wong joined CULTURED Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson to celebrate the brand’s Artistic License series, featuring photographer Gregory Crewdson. The artist, focused on meticulous, large-scale shots of Americana and charged landscapes, lent his oeuvre to the brand for its latest collaboration.
Since being appointed to her current role in 2022, Wong has significantly grown the brand’s influence, physical presence, and digital footprint. And while the company has a long history of elevating the arts and culture since its inception in 1984—this event further cemented that commitment. At the dinner, Wong and Harrelson toasted their guests, which included luminaries from across industries.
The Occasion: The celebratory dinner fêted Aritzia’s collaboration with Crewdson—the latest subject of the Aritzia Artistic License series, which features eight hand-selected photos of his work for use on shopping bags, online, and in-store across Aritzia boutiques in the U.S. and Canada.
The Scene: Displays of Aritzia’s shopping bags with Crewdson’s work (as well as those of past Artistic License guests Juergen Teller, Carlijn Jacobs, and Harley Weir) were dotted throughout the airy space. Guests stopped to admire the bags and catch up with friends while comparing notes on the week’s bustle.
The Crowd: Among the present guests at the dinner were Aritzia CEO Jennifer Wong; Aritzia leadership Jordana M. Pourian, David Bergman, Barbara Nguyen-Willeford, and Sami Barker; artists Chloe Wise, Maya Man, Nicole Fitch, Langley Fox Hemingway, and Erin Calla Watson; curator Essence Harden; writer Lily Sullivan; director Dana Boulos; photographer Lili Peper; creative director Mel Walker; dealer Sara Lee Hantman; arts patron Casey Fremont; and advisors Joe Sheftel and Nancy Gamboa.
Food and Drink: Guests snacked on Monterey Box Crab and beets with pomegranate, before enjoying a selection of Baja Silk Snapper and coal-toasted chicken, followed by silver trays of lemon cookies and jellied confections. Flutes of Krug champagne and celery sodas made the rounds throughout the evening’s fanfare.
Parting Gift: Each guest left with a newly-released copy of CULTURED’s Entertainers Issue, featuring cover star Connor Storrie.
The Aritzia Artistic License™ Series Exhibition featuring works by Gregory Crewdson is on view & open to the public Saturday February 27 – March 1, from 11am-7pm.
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