ACI & PhxArt: 5 Centuries of fashion and a visit from Christian Siriano
Arizona continues to foster its niche as a fashion incubator, attracting nationally recognized designers to the state and nurturing local new talent. On the heels of Arizona Fashion Week in November 2024, the Arizona Costume Institute (ACI) hosted its December Holiday Luncheon, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, featuring none other than award-winning designer Christian Siriano as the keynote speaker.
The sold-out event welcomed over 500 guests and broke all records to support the fashion exhibitions, acquisitions and educational programs at Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt).
Need more? Read more: Arizona Fashion Week takes flight with 2025 fashion trends to watch
A timeless fashion partnership driving preservation and innovation
Siriano’s presence reinforces the ongoing work and results of strong partnerships between ACI and PhxArt. It’s important to note that the collaborative efforts between these Arizona fashion drivers hail back to 1966. The idea was for the ACI to support the acquisition and preservation of historically significant fashion pieces and collections through events and fundraising — an endeavor that remains strongly in play today.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Arizona Costume Institute and its members for their continued support of Phoenix Art Museum,” says Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “The Holiday Luncheon has once again provided crucial funding for our fashion exhibitions, acquisitions, conservation efforts and educational programs, directly benefiting our community.”
The Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs Olga Viso explains that the annual luncheon is pivotal to not only expanding wider recognition of PhxArt, but also placing Arizona on the map as a key hub for fashion outside of New York City, Los Angeles and international destinations.
“We were honored to welcome Christian Siriano to the highest attended Holiday Luncheon we’ve seen in over a decade,” she says. “ACI is a committed group that represents Arizona’s prominent community, and we’re very grateful for their support.”
A historic collection showcasing five centuries of fashion
With the support of Arizona Costume Institute, PhxArt launched “Greatest Fits: The Art of Archiving” (October 2024). This collection houses an estimated 9,000 examples of fashionable dress and accessories from five centuries of style. Examples of the exhibition include everything from a pair of 17th-century sueded-leather gloves to 21st-century couture runway looks.
“As visitors travel through the galleries, they’ll discover vast histories, including the history of the fashion collection at the Museum, a larger fashion history of the U.S. and the background of Arizona as an emerging fashion hub,” Viso says.
Special archives within the collection include the Ann Bonfoey Taylor wardrobe of more than 200 examples by mid-century couture designers, The Emphatics Archive of more than 400 works from avant-garde designers, and the Geoffrey Beene Archive, with more than 300 evening gowns and custom designs.
What’s next
In April 2025, PhxArt and ACI will debut “The World of Anna Sui.” Traveling from the Fashion and Textile Museum of London, the expansive display features more than 100 ensembles, including looks from Sui’s personal archive, fashions from her newest collection and various objects and ensembles from the Museum’s renowned fashion collection selected in collaboration with the designer.
To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.
To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880
