Cosmo Couture 2015

This year the annual Cosmo Couture Fashion & Design Event pays tribute to the largest museum complex that shapes the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge and sharing rich history with the world. Cosmo Couture, in its 6^th year, is an annual event produced by the Washington Metro City Center (WMCC) of the International Interior Design Association Mid-Atlantic Chapter (IIDA-MAC), where interior and exterior collide.  This year’s event will take place on Thursday, September 24^th at the Howard Theater.  Each year WMCC selects the theme from which the design teams create apparel out of interior materials.  This year Cosmo Couture pays tribute to our diverse collection of Smithsonian Museums.

Cosmo Couture 2015 fosters a direct collaboration between local Architecture and Interior Design firms and their manufacturing partners in the Washington DC area, to create garments reflecting a given theme.  Garments are constructed out of interior materials such as tile, carpet, wood, vinyl, glass and rubber -  materials used in the built environment and finding ways to apply them to haute couture fashion, creating a bridge between fashion and architecture.

Each design team randomly selected a museum from the Smithsonian collection at the Cosmo Couture 2014 kick-off party held in June. Some of the museums selected for design inspiration include the American History Museum, American Indian Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Air & Space Museum, the National History Museum, and the African Art Museum to name a few.  IIDA-MAC selected 13 museums from the Smithsonian collection in which design teams will create their works of art.

The garments are judged by a panel of DC and design industry notables (to be announced soon) during a runway show with awards given to design teams in different categories.  Twenty-five design teams will participate in this year’s event.

The 2015 Cosmo Couture beneficiary is Rebuilding Together of Washington, DC (RTDC).  RTDC’s mission is to preserve and revitalize low-income homes and community facilities in our Nation’s Capital.  RTDC makes free home repairs for low-income DC homeowners who are Veterans, elderly, disabled or caring for young children in seriously deteriorating conditions and for nonprofit community centers that serve DC’s most vulnerable citizens of all ages. RTDC’s home repairs enable low-income homeowners to remain in their homes, where they can live in warmth and safety with independence and dignity. To date, the IIDA Mid-Atlantic Chapter has donated over $90,000 to previously selected charities from Cosmo Couture proceeds during the past five years.

Cosmo Couture attracts approximately 800 attendees each year.  Event tickets range from $85-185 and sponsorship and table opportunities are also available online at http://www.cosmocouture.org/tickets.shtml.  

When: Thursday, September 24, 2015
Where:  The Howard Theater, 620 T Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
Time:  5:00-10:00PM
VIP Reception 5:00-6:00PM, Cocktails 6:00-7:30PM, Runway Show 7:30-9:00PM, Desserts 9:00-10:00PM

Website: www.cosmocouture.org