Gilles Bensimon, publication director of Elle magazine, and fashion designer Nanette Lepore

Peconic Bay Winery, one of our beverage sponsors for the opening

Valerie Steele, director of the Museum at FIT, and fashion designer Zac Posen

Martha Clara Vineyards' contribution to the event

Fashion designer Doo-Ri Chung

Daniel Schnur, designer of the exhibition space, is seen here celebrating with Eric Steding of Shop Studios

Susi Musella, Aniello Musella, Italian Trade Commissioner, and Rossana Ciraolo

Fashion designer Yeohlee Teng and Roberta Myers, editor-in-chief of Elle magazine

Karen Fuss-Zipp, senior vice president of marketing at Redken, and Nina Garcia, fashion director of Elle magazine

Fashion Designer Alice Roi

Valerie Steele, director of the Museum at FIT, and Marilyn Kirschner, editor-in-chief of lookonline.com

The Museum at FIT celebrated the launch of America's first permanent Fashion and Textile History Gallery on November 14, 2005. Sponsored by ELLE magazine and Redken, the party drew hundreds of guests, including the designers Doo Ri Chung, Nanette Lepore, Zac Posen, Alice Roi, and Yeohlee Teng.  The reception featured the DJ Tim "Love" Lee and was designed by Shop Studios. A short video of the event is posted on their website. The museum thanks beverage sponsors Martha Clara Vineyards, Peconic Bay Winery, Perrier, and Heavy Water for their generous contributions.

The Fashion and Textile History Gallery features a rotating display of 100 important objects from the museum's permanent collection. The objects span 250 years of fashion and textiles, and provide a context for the changing thematic exhibitions in the museum's lower gallery.