Alice + Olivia Hosted Its Second Female Empowerment Dinner

Tuesday night, Stacey Bendet, Lakwena, and Nicky Hilton Rothschild teamed up to host a F.E.D. (or Female Empowerment Dinner) to celebrate the launch of a new limited edition collection: Alice + Olivia x Lakwena.

Held at the secretive, unopened Zero Bond—a private club “highly particular on character” but no other qualifications—the fête drew designers and entrepreneurs, authors and artists. The flower-draped, industrial space buzzed with optimism and daring.

The collaboration between Lakwena, the artist known for her bold murals, and Bendet resulted in bright, defiant pieces. Messages like “When I Am Free” and “Lift You Up” were emblazoned on the patterned garments.

Proceeds from the collection support LifeWay Network, an organization that Hilton Rothschild has long championed. In the United States and abroad, human trafficking continues to be a sickeningly common and profitable venture with an estimated 40.3 million people in modern slavery, generating up to $150 billion for traffickers. LifeWay Network provides safe houses, education, and mentorship for victims.

Held a few days before International Women’s Month begins, the dinner reflected the incredible power that women wield throughout the world. Among the luminaries in attendance were Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (the sister of Qatar’s ruling emir) and Chelsea Clinton, coauthor of The Book of Gutsy Women and the vice-chairman of the Clinton Foundation. The cause that united the guests proved how much work still needs to be done.