LuisaViaRoma Hosts a Chic NYFW Cocktail and Silent Auction in Support of Planned Parenthood of Greater NY

Luxury retailer LuisaViaRoma kicked off NYFW, rallying the fashion and art community for a good cause: the right to choose and access basic reproductive and primary health care. The cocktail party and silent auction preview, Choice Works, benefited Planned Parenthood of Greater NY (PPGNY), the largest Planned Parenthood Affiliate. At a time when reproductive care has become increasingly restricted and criminalized, the organization has seen an uptick in patients seeking abortion care after local hospitals suspended outpatient care. PPGNY, however, vows to always be there, no matter what.

“Nowadays, even more so, it’s important to keep such a mission alive because we don’t want it to be a dinosaur. We all need to come together because we work together, and only in that way will we succeed as a human being. These are the liberties that we were fought for and afforded years ago,” Bianca Jebbia told Vogue, proudly sporting her shining silver Planned Parenthood pin. “It’s so backward and heartbreaking for the generations to come. There’s always a moment in time and a cycle that everyone has to sacrifice, fight for, and maybe lose on some occasions, but just to make a dent for the next step.”

In response, longtime Planned Parenthood supporters Bianca Jebbia and artists Marilyn Minter and Laurie Simmons stepped up to provide support. Proceeds of the silent auction will go directly to the organization’s ongoing efforts, including funding care for patients in and out of state. The evening featured performances by musicians Lizzi Bougatsos and Lissy Trullie alongside a flow of specialty cocktails from Tepozan.

“I will report for duty to Planned Parenthood no matter where I am and what I’m doing. I’m committed to being there for PPGNY, helping them raise money, and getting many others to support them,” Laurie Simmons told Vogue, sharing her pride in being a proud mother to a trans son. “It’s a little bit hard to put on a pretty dress and come out tonight, but I think we all have to be together and agree that what is going on [politically] is unacceptable. It’s illegal, it’s unconscionable, and particularly in the world of fashion and art, the LGBTG+ community is our community.”

Amidst LuisaViaRoma’s sprawling NoHo store, paintings and prints up for auction decorated the walls as onlookers (and potential purchasers) viewed. Participating artists include Katherine Bernhardt, Cecily Brown, Jane Dickson, Francesca DiMattio, Carroll Dunham, Todd Eberle, Judith Eisler, Eva Faye, Natalie Frank, Elizabeth Glaessner, Marcus Jahmal, Joan Jonas, Elisabeth Kley, Karen Kilimnik, Curtis Kulig, Enoc Perez, Lauren de la Roche, Kenny Scharf, Laurie Simmons, Joan Snyder, Jane Swavely, Sarah Sze, Concetto Pozzati, and Chloe Wise.

The silent auction will take place on Thursday, February 6 at 3pm EST. To participate in the auction, click here.