The scene: The jerky motions of Chinese dragon dancers and the din of Asian percussion set a festive mood for a crowd of 850 fashion executives and retailers at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The black-tie gala was produced by the Fashion Industries Guild of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, one of the largest philanthropic organizations supported by Los Angeles’ apparel businesses.

It is FIG’s mission to raise funds for the Los Angeles hospital’s Acute Pediatric Care Unit. Barbara Fields, the 2008 honoree, is the owner of the Barbara Fields Buying Office and the leader of this year’s effort. The evening’s fun was the happy ending for one year of grinding work to raise money in a tough economy, Fields said.

Fields forecasted the economy was going to be tough when she was given the fund-raising job last year, so she resolved to start her charitable job early. “This success was carved out by breaking the rules. If it made the FIG board go crazy, it was worth it.”

Fields started raising money in November 2007. By March 2008, she noticed that companies were more hard-pressed to commit to donating thousands of dollars, as the economy grew more turbulent. However, she completed 80 percent of her fund raising by March.

FIG board members celebrated her efforts. “She is constantly on the move,” FIG President Kenny Weinbaum said in a speech detailing her efforts on behalf of FIG and her more than 27-year career in fashion. “She has nurtured the California juniors manufacturers and brought them recognition.”

After brief speeches, including one from Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry, guests enjoyed a dinner of beef tenderloin and grilled salmon. Entertainment was big band Du Bois Productions, who got the whole crowd to dance. Steve Maiman, co-owner of Stony Apparel and 1999 FIG “Man of the Year,” picked up the guitar and led the band in a rousing rendition of Bachman Turner Overdrive’s 1973 hit “Takin’ Care of Business.”

The evening’s guests included other past FIG honorees Ilse Metchek, Larry Hansel, George Rudes and Richard Clareman. Fields said the event made her feel like a bride. “Time went by faster than at a wedding,” she said. “Before I knew it, it was 12:30 a.m.”  —Andrew Asch

Photography by Thomas Neerken