Fashion and poverty seem like an unlikely pair to be matched up against one another, unless of course it’s between your personal desire for a couture piece and the emptiness of your bank account. Truth is these days, the two just keep running into each other, but on a much larger scale; and this time fashion is alleviating poverty instead of encouraging it. On September 26th, the ethical fashion organization Fashion Fights Poverty (FFP) will be hosting their 4th annual eco-fashion benefit at The St. Regis hotel in Washington, DC.

Each year, Fashion Fights Poverty combines established brands like American Apparel and Donna Karan with premiere eco fashion lines like Edun and Loomstate, alongside emerging talent, to present clothing that is sophisticated and truly sustainable. For the 2008 “America” theme, FFP has chosen to honor not only fashion design, but also American ingenuity. “In this historic election year where the focus is change and innovation, we believe, to be an American is to conceive and build innovative solutions to our common problems,” says Michael Dumlao, Co-Founder and Creative Director of FFP.

Fashion Fights Poverty brings attention to eco designers and organizations who use fashion, artisanship, and creativity to build long-term economic opportunity in poverty stricken communities. This year’s runway will feature designs from eco and ethical lines by Kayce Armstrong, Mae, Annatarian, Adele Wechsler and local DC menswear designer Eric Finn.