Closely Crafted Hosted Its Second Annual Fundraiser to Help Preserve Artisan Craft

Last night, CEOs, designers, fashion students, and artisans from all over the country gathered in a Manhattan loft to celebrate—and help preserve—the legacy of quality American-made goods. The “Move the Needle” fundraiser was hosted by Closely Crafted, the organization founded by milliner Gigi Burris in 2022 to empower the next generation of creators. “What unites everyone is quality and craftmanship,” Burris told ELLE.com at the event. “It’s not just about fundraising, it’s about community.”

The evening featured a live-draping demonstration from HIPS Studio, the husband-wife team specializing in concept and development for brands like Dauphinette and Christopher John Rogers. There was also a gorgeous pleating display from Tom’s Sons International, a fifth-generation studio based in New York City’s garment district, which services major fashion houses. Board members and board advisors were all wearing silk floral pins from a third-generation flower atelier, also located in the Garment District.

The venue was fittingly decorated with beautifully billowing fabrics, which Burris was quick to point out will be repurposed: “It was very important to me to host an event that is circular. All of the muslin will be donated for educational purposes, and the displays will be donated. It’s a near-zero waste event.”

This year’s host committee included Abrima Erwiah, director of the Joseph and Gail Gromek Institute for Fashion Business at Parsons The New School; Willy Chavarria, owner and chief creative officer of his eponymous label; Ashlynn Park, founder and creative director, ASHLYN, and Joh Siff, managing partner and CCO, ASHLYN; Bruce Pask, senior editorial director for Neiman Marcus Brand; and Gena Smith, chief human resources officer of LVMH North America.

In addition to Burris, Closely Crafted’s board of directors includes fashion industry experts and designers, like Markarian’s Alexandra O’Neill and anOnlyChild’s Maxwell Osborne. “It’s a dying breed of watching things slowly dwindle,” Osborne said at the event. “Our production times have gotten longer, because there are no new sewers. It’s harder to get proper patterns made. A whole genre of people are gone that Closely Crafted is trying to get back.”

Regarding the organization’s mission, Burris adds: “Our goal is to energize the next generation about working with their hands and contributing to an industry that has a future in craftmanship that we can make here in the United States.”

Click through the gallery below for an exclusive look inside the event.

Gigi Burris

Maxwell Osborne

Julie Gilhart, Sarah Cristobal, Gena Smith, and Maria Cornejo

Connor McKnight and Bailey Moon

The scene inside

Andrew Kwon

You Might Also Like

• The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types

• 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)