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BoF Professionals Get Rare Access to Richard Avedon Foundation

Members were the first to view photographs from an upcoming exhibit on the master portraitist’s influential career at the first ever BoF Professional event in New York.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 06: A Private Viewing at The Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community on June 6, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion)
By
  • BoF Team

NEW YORK, United States — Two months before photographs from over fifty years of Richard Avedon's legendary career open to the public at the Guild Hall Museum in East Hampton, BoF Professionals convened at the late photographer's foundation in Manhattan on Tuesday night for a rare glimpse at his archives. The exclusive visit, a singular opportunity for members to take a closer look at the portrait master's body of work, marked the first ever dedicated event for BoF Professionals. Amidst the work of one of fashion's most influential artists, about 130 attendees took in a night of cocktails and community. All proceeds from the sold-out event benefitted the foundation.

James Martin and Imran Amed | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images James Martin and Imran Amed | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

James Martin and Imran Amed | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

The exhibit on view, entitled “Avedon’s America,” was curated with the current geo-political climate in mind, highlighting the diverse faces that shaped 20th century culture in the United States. Lead by informal tours with James Martin, executive director of the foundation, and Laura Avedon, the foundation’s chief executive, members viewed portraits of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Donald Trump, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Stephanie Seymour and Bianca Jagger.

"The foundation and Richard Avedon's legacy is tethered to the hip to fashion," said Martin to the guests. "[He shaped] the vision of fashion in the '40s, '50s, '60s, 'nothing gets between me and my Calvins'.... We want to understand and constantly be around and informed by what's going on in fashion.

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For BoF Professional members, the intimate evening provided an opportunity to discover Avedon’s iconic and lesser known prints and connect with each other. Such unique events are only the newest benefit to BoF’s annual program: in addition to unlimited access to the publication’s features and analysis, members receive exclusive weekly briefings on the state of the industry, up-to-the minute updates from the BoF Professional iPhone app and copies of the bi-annual special print editions.

"The most valuable part is access to news, information and content," said April Uchitel, chief brand strategist at Spring. "I am just beginning to learn about other benefits such as these events. I was really curious about the Avedon Foundation itself and interested in the networking opportunities and the audience it would draw."

"It's where I get my source for everything that goes on in fashion," added Ashley Lo, who works in client relations for a womenswear designer in New York. She started reading BoF three years ago as a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and later found her current job through BoF Careers.

“Our industry is in a period of so much change at the moment, there is so much disruption, there is so much uncertainty,” said BoF founder Imran Amed to the crowd of members. “What better way to cope with and try to make sense of everything that’s going on than by connecting with other people who are going through the same thing.”

“What I hope you’ll get from tonight is not only an opportunity to immerse yourself in the amazing world of Richard Avedon,” Amed continued, “but also that you have a chance to meet other people, to make some connections and to have an opportunity to learn from each other.”

Not a BoF Professional? Join now.

Imran Amed and Fern Mallis | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Imran Amed and Fern Mallis | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Imran Amed and Fern Mallis | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

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Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Inside the Richard Avedon Foundation with the BoF Professional Community | Source: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

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