Christian Siriano hosts Pink Fantasy charity fashion show

Christian Siriano held his first charity fashion show Thursday night at his store in Westport, Connecticut, The Collective West, in support of the non-profit breast cancer organization Pink Aid.

Founded in 2011 by Andrew Mitchell-Namdar, Amy Katz, Amy Gross and Renée Mandis in Westport, Pink Aid is the “only national organization providing compassionate support and rapid emergency financial assistance to patients in treatment, supporting families during this critical time,” as stated on its website.

"Pink Aid's mission is to provide compassionate support, essential resources and financial assistance to d emergency to underserved breast cancer patients and their families,” Mitchell-Namdar said before the parade, adding that the society has been able to support more than 20,000 women in 40 states.

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"We like to say that Pink Aid is at the intersection of breast cancer and poverty. According to a new February 2023 study by the American Medical Association, more than 35% of breast cancer patients in the United States will face financial toxicity while battling the disease and in the process of recovery. Although there are so many organizations that find research badly needed, we started Pink Aid really to keep the lights on and the food on the table, to help financially precarious patients pay their bills and provide compassionate services to help them get through treatment so they can then return to productive lives,” Mandis said, adding that the company is now seeking a national sponsor to achieve its goal of “making 50 states pink.”

“I've been in this business for 15 years now. You meet all types of women when you make clothes, don't you? I kept hearing so many horrible stories of so many women struggling so much. In fact, I think people don't realize how difficult it is for everyday life,” Siriano said backstage, adding that the charity is close to his heart. "I just wanted people to have a bit of fantasy, because they don't see fashion."

The sold-out show raised money for the breast cancer organization thanks to selling tickets and seating 205 survivors, friends and supporters, including Whoopi Goldberg, Natasha Beddingfield, Ken Downing and Rosie Perez.

"It's so nice sometimes when you do a fashion show outside the normal world because you can feel the audience, they're getting a little more excited. It feels good. It's always nice to do it for those people - they're the customers, they're the ones buying the clothes, so you have to give them something too thing,” Siriano added.

Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie Perez Courtesy of Christian Siriano

Titled "Pink Fantasy Fashion Show", Si...