Stewart at last year’s Fashion Trust U.S. Awards. PHOTO BY STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY IMAGES
When devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles, stylists Elizabeth Stewart and Jordan Grossman, who started the nonprofit Chic Relief during Covid, knew they had to take action. What started as an effort to help displaced friends quickly grew into a large-scale initiative, rallying the fashion industry to provide clothing and support to those who had lost everything.
For Stewart, the crisis hit close to home. Her Santa Monica neighborhood was just outside a mandatory evacuation zone, and she and her family decided to leave as a precaution. “It was stressful, watching and waiting,” she recalls. “We evacuated for a night because of my mom, who has dementia—we wanted to relocate her during daylight hours rather than potentially having to move in the middle of the night.” They found temporary refuge at The Beverly Hilton, which had opened its doors to evacuees with pets. “The lobby was like a dog park!” she adds.
As news spread, the destruction became deeply personal. Village School in the Palisades, where Stewart’s children attended from pre-K through sixth grade, was completely lost in the fire. “A lot of our friends lost their homes,” she says. Grossman, too, had close connections in Altadena. While gathering essentials for people they knew, they realized they could do more. “We saw the need was huge, and we had relationships with brands that could help,” Stewart explains.
Elizabeth Stewart leads the volunteer efforts at a Chic Relief clothing drive; PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIC RELIEF
The two quickly mobilized Chic Relief, calling on fashion industry contacts to donate. They transformed Clothed, Grossman’s rental house, into an operational hub with a growing team of volunteers. “We don’t take salaries—everything goes directly to recipients,” Stewart notes, emphasizing the grassroots nature of their efforts. Soon, the initiative had the backing of top stylists, costume designers and industry insiders. “We had about 60 volunteers—people like Jamie Mizrahi, Lori Goldstein, Jessica Pastor and George Kotsiopoulos—even Waymo and Uber stepped in to provide rides,” she says.
Luxury brands also joined the cause, providing new clothing to help victims rebuild their wardrobes. “We tried our best to give people not just basics but a new start,” Stewart says, listing contributors like Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors and Hunter. Volunteers went beyond donations—many actively sought out missing items. “My friend Robert Vetica, who lives in Milan, ordered a whole rack of jackets that just showed up. Another friend, Robert Trachtenberg, and his husband shopped at the Palm Springs outlets to fill in gaps,” she adds. Even Stewart’s children got involved. “Ivy recruited volunteers from New York,” she shares, “and Ben pulled together a group of friends to pitch in.”
Suitcases were one of the most needed items for fire victims; PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIC RELIEF
“We saw the need was huge, and we had relationships with brands that could help”–ELIZABETH STEWART
Although Chic Relief has been an emergency-driven effort, Stewart hopes to establish it as a long-term nonprofit. “Right now, we remain dormant until there’s a need, but ideally, we’d like to operate continuously,” she says. The overwhelming generosity she witnessed reaffirmed her love for Los Angeles. “This city is forever changed, but the resilience and kindness of the people here are incredible,” she reflects. “L.A. will bounce back. In 10 years, I hope to see places like Altadena and the Palisades rebuilt—stronger, safer and more prepared for the future.”
Photography by: STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY IMAGES
