The IIDA NY seventh-annual Sustainable Quilt Auction was held on March 25 at Open House Gallery. More than 200 attendees enjoyed cocktails, appetizers and a DJ while viewing and bidding on one-of-a-kind quilts made from discarded materials from fabric showrooms, product libraries and industry samples.  The quilts themselves were made by local design firms and were displayed along stories of what inspired them.

"Will You Marry Me" by Team HLW/HBF, inspired by marriage equality.

"Fantas-Tick" by Team Perkins+Will, inspired by Susanne Tick's Tech Couture collection for Teknion.

The nine teams that participated—Team Perkins+Will, Team C3 Designs, Team AAAACE Lincoln, Team TPG, Team Gensler, Team Handel, Team IIDA NY, Team HLW/HBF and Team LMNOP—logged over 1,600 hours worth of “quilting bees” to create their pieces. The quilts drew from nontraditional sources of inspiration including Doctor Who, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, an Edward Hopper masterpiece and marriage equality.

"KUILT – the transformative quilt" by Team Gensler. Inspired by traditional kimonos, this quilt can be worn as well as used decoratively.

"ABE" by Team AAAACE Lincoln, inspired by the Alexander Gardner portrait of Lincoln.

"UntitledA4.QLT" by TPG, meant to be a reflection of the lesson 'keep it simple' in design.

The event raised funds for Be Original Americas, which raises awareness about the importance and value of preserving original design and was recently named one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Design. The funds will be used for educational events for industry professionals about the moral, environmental and economic value of design.

"Welcome Quilt" by Team Handel, inspired by the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality.

"Nighthawks in Soft Relief" by Team LMNOP, inspired by the iconic painting by the same name by Edward Hopper.

"For Irving" by Team IIDA NY, inspired by the art, design and craftsmanship by Irving Harper.

Photos by Johnny Wolf Photography for IIDA NY.