KREWE has taken over New Orleans and created a world in which “The Big Easy” far extends the boarders of Louisiana. Just walk down any street and you can feel the eyewear brand’s vibe. Founder and Creative Director Stirling Barrett, who was also a 2016 CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund runner-up, has built a cult brand rooted in Nola history.
In late October, KREWE hosted its fourth annual KREWE Fete—a weekend long party and brand immersive experience to support KREWE Foundation. It’s no secret that New Orleans is a city of celebration and hospitality but KREWE created a three-day long packed with cultural experience and a local feel.
That same attitude was the catalyst to launch KREWE Foundation three years ago at the inaugural KREWE Fete. Since its creation, KREWE Foundation has been able to offer free eye exams and prescription optical glasses to approximately 300 public high school students in New Orleans in predominately low-income neighborhoods.
“The KREWE Foundation is set up to change the way that New Orleans high schoolers see the world,” Barrett said. “We do that by providing the services you’d come to expect from KREWE — prescription glasses and eye exams — at no cost to help make them comfortable and excel at school and inspire them to envision their future.”
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The weekend kicked off with a Duets Concert in Felicity Church, a recently re-opened venue following damage from Hurricane Katrina. The concert included duos such as Motel Radio, GIVERS, and Sweet Crude, which had the full congregation on their feet dancing. Everyone moved to the nearby bar, The Saint, for the after party and DJ Boyfriend kept everyone dancing and celebrating into the late night.
Saturday morning started with a brand immersive panel at KREWE’s new Magazine Street headquarters which feels more like tropical luxury hotel than a traditional office building – complete with a 20 -foot monstera tree and a built-in pool with a courtyard area for afternoon meetings. One conversation focused on the newly-launched collaboration between KREWE and Billy Reid, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund alum and fellow Southerner.
Later that evening, KREWE hosted a family-style dinner for 100 friends at a private home in the Garden District. Sparkling lights strung on trees lit the intimate seating for a dinner prepared by James Beard Award winning chef and author Justin Devillier. Motel Radio’s sweet sounds provided the ultimate dinner playlist and a few brave KREWE employees even joined them on the make-shift stage for cameos. In New Orleans tradition, dessert was in liquid form in boozy snowballs by French Quarter favorite, Justine’s.
Sunday winded down with Fete Fest, a Rose and Popeye’s party at the iconic New Orleans venue, Preservation Hall—the home of Traditional New Orleans Jazz.
In the end, KREWE Foundation raised additional funds to continue their good work in helping the community that inspired the brand.
