Contact:

Ellen Newman Ellen Newman, Ink 415.665.7447 ellennewman@earthlink.net

Lisa Boquiren San Francisco Design Center 415.490.5821 lisab@sfdesigncenter.com

Philanthropy Rules the Runway at
CoUtuRE: Celebrating Couture for the Cure
Friday, July 27, 2007, 6 – 9 pm
Galleria Atrium, San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams near 8th and Townsend Streets


Fifteen local fashion luminaries, many of whom dress some of the Bay Area’s most stylish A-listers, are turning their talents toward raising funds to fight breast cancer. They are designing 20 one-of-a-kind gowns and ensembles, all created from fabrics chosen from the San Francisco Design Center’s exquisite haute décor textile collections. Following a festive runway show, the fashions will be auctioned off live to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Francisco Bay Area. The gala evening on Friday, July 27, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Komen San Francisco and the 35th anniversary of San Francisco Design Center.

Since its partnership with Komen San Francisco began in 2001, SFDC has helped raise nearly $175,000 for breast cancer education, treatment and research. For SFDC, supporting a cause that affects women so deeply offers a philanthropic opportunity that makes great sense.

“Cause marketing matters,” says Tim Treadway, SFDC CEO. “Along with our partners in philanthropy – showrooms, manufacturers and designers – SFDC has raised more than $350,000 since 2001 for a variety of causes. In particular, we support the fight against breast cancer because so many in our community – our co-workers, colleagues, clients and family members – have been impacted by the disease. In the same way that AIDS in the 1980s impacted the design community, breast cancer affects us because the majority of our clients are women."

SFDC VP and volunteer model Nelly Saliba, whose diagnosis and subsequent recovery from breast cancer inspired the fashion auction, believes CoUtuRE, “can help restore a woman’s sense of self after an emotionally and physically scarring experience.”

This year, recognizing the opportunity presented by CoUtuRE to further its support for women in the community, Morgan Stanley teamed up with SFDC. “This event embodies many things we believe in – women making a difference in their community and in their workplace,” comments Renee Arst, executive director and manager of the San Francisco offices of Morgan Stanley. “Breast cancer affects everybody. The Susan G. Komen organization has made a difference for many individuals around the country. We believe in the support – financial, emotional and practical – that they provide.”

In addition to collaborating on CoUtuRE, SFDC and Morgan Stanley are supporting two other ways to make a difference this summer. The 125 for $125 Fund A Mammogram Campaign is raising money online – one mammogram at a time – so Komen can provide screening mammograms for uninsured Bay Area women. Bill Poland and Tim Treadway of Bay West Showplace Investors, SFDC’s management company, are matching mammogram donations up to $5,000. SFDC’s showrooms have also teamed up with interior designers to create fanciful pillows to be sold during a silent auction from July 9 – 20. Dubbed Pillow Fight for the Cure, it’s also raising funds to provide mammograms to uninsured women.

For the designers participating in CoUtuRE – Autumn Adamme (Dark Garden), Babette with Josephine Tchang, Julie Chaiken, Lea Ditson, Joseph S. Domingo, Dema Grim, Patrick Jude, Nicole Lenzen, Catherine Jane Mendoza, Colleen Quen, Beverley Siri, Diana Slavin, Erica Tanov and Julienne Weston – their philanthropy is a labor of love.

Beverley Siri, who has participated in each of the six fashion auctions, considers supporting the cause a family affair. Her mother and two aunts are breast cancer survivors. “I feel an obligation to give back. It’s easy for us to do this for the benefit it provides,” says Siri, whose showstopper off-the-shoulder gown for honorary co-chair Mary B. Mockus, MD, features a rouched bodice in silk taffeta and a mermaid train of sheer organza rosettes in Randolph & Hein fabric.

Couturier Colleen Quen, who has designed clothes for local trendsetters and international celebrities, notes that, “It’s great that the design community is being supportive.” She is dressing honorary co-chair Mary Poland and real estate pro Barbara Callan, a 20-year breast cancer survivor and mother-in-law of honorary co-chair Hilary Newsom Callan. Quen’s dramatically chic gowns for CoUtuRE, an elegant sheath punctuated with black velvet trim, and a more romantic offering, draw their inspiration from the floral motifs of the fabrics she chose from the Kneedler l Fauchère and Lee Jofa showrooms.

“It’s fun to create out of fabric that you would never expect to use,” says Babette Pinsky of Babette about the opportunity to design using haute décor fabrics from SFDC. “I love the idea that this design process ends up with money for Komen.” Known for her geometric, almost architectural approach to fashion and her innovative accordion-style pleating, Pinsky is designing two signature ensembles for CoUtuRE with silver and white fabrics from F. Schumacher, one of which will be modeled by honorary co-chair Topher Delaney.

Catherine Jane Mendoza loves the challenge of working with design center fabrics. “We get to experiment,” says Mendoza, who has worked with breast cancer organizations in the past. “I work with women all day long. I have clients who are survivors or who have lost someone close to them.” Mendoza is using fabric from Cowtan & Tout for two outfits: a versatile cocktail dress and matching reversible jacket, plus a sophisticated column gown with a plunging back and mermaid train.

Newcomers to the event, Nicole Lenzen, Erica Tanov and Joseph S. Domingo, were also attracted to participate because at CoUtuRE fashion supports an important cause.

Nicole Lenzen is creating an “architectural” evening gown using upholstery fabrics from Brunschwig & Fils. “The fabrics have their own structure and weight,” notes Lenzen, whose piece combines several different materials for an effect that’s dramatic yet feminine.

“To take materials meant for interiors and use them for clothing is very cool,” comments Berkeley-based Erica Tanov. Her gown, from Sloan Miyasato fabrics, has a long fitted bodice and a full skirt in ivory silk with a subtle, tonal pattern paired with a cotton jacquard jacket in ecru with pink lotus flowers. “The fabrics work beautifully together,” she says. “It’s so nice to do something I love to raise funds for a good cause.”

“Breast cancer touches everyone’s lives,” comments Joseph S. Domingo, whose recent collections, shown at Fashion Week in Los Angeles, have been gathering international acclaim. Working with fabrics from Kravet and Kneedler l Fauchère, he is creating an elegant long jacket and flowing pants for honorary co-chair Susan E. Kutner, MD, and a stunning fitted mermaid dress with crystal shoulder straps topped with a voluminous opera coat, a dramatic platinum and black ensemble for CoUtuRE honorary co-chair and Komen San Francisco founder Joanne Horning.

Participating SFDC showrooms include: Beckmann MooreYaki Studio, Brunschwig & Fils, Cowtan & Tout, De Sousa Hughes, F. Schumacher, GaulSearson, Kneedler | Fauchère, Kravet, Lee Jofa, Provasi, Randolph & Hein, Shears & Window Textiles, Sloan Miyasato and Stroheim.

Avner Lapovsky of Sloan Miyasato is excited about seeing his showroom’s fabrics turned into fashions for a good cause. “The fashion show beautifully marries SFDC’s products with local fashion design talent packaged as a charitable event. Breast cancer is as important a cause to our profession as AIDS because it affects so many designers and customers,” notes Lapovsky. “Research is so important and necessary. Susan G. Komen is a wonderful partner for this fashion show.”

The Randolph & Hein showroom has worked with Beverley Siri in each of the six fashion auctions. “Everyone in this industry is so committed to the cause. It resonates with a lot of people,” says showroom manager Toby Scott. “We want to let our clients know that we’re active in philanthropic endeavors. And we can showcase our product at the same time. It’s a great tie-in.”

Honorary co-chairs for CoUtuRE are Topher Delaney, Joanne Horning, Susan E. Kutner, MD, Mary B. Mockus, MD, Hilary Newsom Callan and Mary Poland. Sydnie Kohara, anchor of CBS 5 Eyewitness News Early Edition, hosts, while Patrick Meade of Bonhams & Butterfields presides over the live auction. Brenda Bernheim, BB Fashion Show Productions & Special Events, produces the fashion show for SFDC.

Morgan Stanley is the presenting sponsor. San Francisco magazine is the media partner. Bonhams & Butterfields, Cheshire Cat Catering, Elevation Salon + Café, Grey Goose, Hotel Adagio and John Murray Productions are event sponsors.

Participating wineries include Arns Winery & Vineyards, Domaine Carneros by Taittinger, Honig Vineyard & Winery, Jepson Vineyards, Parallel Napa Valley and Toad Hollow Vineyards.

Ticket price includes auction registration, complimentary wine, signature cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres. Attire is black, white or pink chic.


Beneficiary – Susan G. Komen for the Cure:

Actively working to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease, Susan G. Komen for the Cure runs one of the most innovative and responsive grant programs in breast cancer today. It is the nation’s largest private source of funding for breast cancer research, screening, education and treatment support.

In 2007, Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Francisco Bay Area celebrates 20 years of patient advocacy, awareness-building and raising funds for innovative research and community outreach programs. Of the money raised by Komen affiliates annually, 75% funds breast cancer outreach projects for the medically underserved in their local communities. The remaining 25% supports the foundation's Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

Since its founding by CoUtuRE co-chair Joanne Horning in 1987, Komen SF has granted more than $9 million in the nine Bay Area counties it serves, thanks to its dedicated donors and supporters.


The 125 for $125
Fund-A-Mammogram Campaign:

Mammography is the best screening tool available today for discovering breast cancer at an early stage, when it is most responsive to treatment. The cost to provide a screening mammogram for an uninsured woman is $125. SFDC, as part of its support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is seeking 125 donors – individuals or businesses – to help fund mammograms for underserved women in our community by contributing the cost of one or more mammograms.