The Afghan American Gala: A Black‑Tie Celebration of Heritage, Craftsmanship & Community
Afghan American Gala in DC | Photo Credit: Nilab | DMV Photographer
A Black-Tie Celebration of Heritage, Craftsmanship, and Community
On September 20, 2025, the Afghan American Community Organization (AACO) hosted its 10-Year Anniversary Gala at Washington, D.C.’s historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. More than 450 Afghan-Americans gathered to celebrate a decade of progress through cultural performances, storytelling, dinner, live music, and a fundraising auction.
Proceeds support AACO programs including scholarships, youth leadership development, legal and health services, and future conferences. The gala theme, “Resilient & Rising,” honored a complex past and a hopeful future.
Afghan American Community Organization (AACO)
Established in 2015, AACO is the leading national nonprofit for the Afghan-American community. Its mission includes:
Strengthening community connection
Expanding educational and career pathways
Supporting Afghan refugees and families in the U.S.
Preserving Afghan identity and history
The anniversary gala served as a major fundraiser to sustain these essential initiatives.
Franco Uomo and Its Afghan Heritage
Franco Uomo was founded over 20 years ago by Afghan tailor Daud Shuja, whose personal story includes displacement during the Soviet invasion, resettlement in the U.S. through international refugee support, and rebuilding a new life through craftsmanship.
What began as a small tailoring operation evolved into a luxury menswear brand known for:
Bespoke and made-to-measure suiting
Precision Italian tailoring
Custom styling for black-tie and professional events
Franco Uomo’s Afghan roots reflect a legacy of resilience, sophistication, and dignity.
In June 2025, the brand expanded from its flagship boutique at Santana Row in San Jose to a second showroom in Palo Alto (Town & Country Village), further serving the Bay Area’s demand for luxury tailoring.
AACO Gala Partnership: A Suit With Meaning
To honor AACO’s milestone year, Franco Uomo donated a made-to-measure three-piece suit to the gala’s auction. Fabrics came from the world’s top mills, including Loro Piana, Scabal, Piacenza, and Dormeuil.
The auction winner, AJ, chose to gift the experience to his brother—an act that captured the evening’s spirit of shared achievement and community uplift.
The Afghan Gala Tuxedo
Designed With Intention in Every Detail
Franco Uomo CEO Yosef Shuja attended wearing a custom tuxedo created to represent Afghanistan’s cultural and historical identity:
Black Fabric — Represents resilience and endurance throughout Afghanistan’s history and aligns with Western black-tie formality.
Red Lining — Represents sacrifice and the struggle for independence, echoing colors found in traditional Afghan carpets and craftsmanship.
Green Collar — Symbolizes renewal, life, and the fertile agriculture of provinces such as Kandahar, Herat, and Panjshir.
Lapis Lazuli Cufflinks — Honor Afghanistan as the world’s most ancient source of lapis lazuli, used for over 6,000 years in global art including ultramarine pigment in Renaissance paintings.
Black Cummerbund — A reclaiming of the garment’s origins in the Persian and Mughal courts (kamarbandh), before it became a British and Western black-tie tradition.
Hindu Kush Lining — Depicts Afghanistan’s mountain backbone, historically serving as both barrier and trade passage, including southern routes of the Silk Road and access to the Sar-e-Sang lapis mines.
The garment stands as a refined expression of Afghan history within a modern, luxury format.
Craftsmanship and Community
Franco Uomo’s participation in the gala represents a shared mission with AACO:
Strengthening the Afghan diaspora
Honoring the next generation’s opportunities
Elevating Afghan representation at the highest cultural level
Bespoke art becomes a contribution to community empowerment.
Franco Uomo Showrooms
Visit Franco Uomo at either of its Silicon Valley locations to explore:
Custom tuxedos and formalwear
Made-to-measure suits
Luxury Italian fabrics
Personalized styling consultations
San Jose – Santana Row
356 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128
Palo Alto – Town & Country Village
855 El Camino Real, Suite 10, Palo Alto, CA 94301
In-person visits and appointments are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AACO?
A nationwide nonprofit that empowers Afghan-Americans through community programs, scholarships, mentorship, and support services.
Why did Franco Uomo support this gala?
The brand’s Afghan heritage aligns with AACO’s mission to uplift and celebrate the community.
What makes the Afghan Gala Tuxedo unique?
Every detail—from color selection to textile symbolism—reflects Afghanistan’s history, geography, and cultural contributions.
Where can I purchase custom black-tie attire?
Franco Uomo’s San Jose and Palo Alto showrooms specialize in bespoke tuxedos and luxury formalwear.
Why is lapis lazuli meaningful to Afghanistan?
The gemstone’s oldest known mines are in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountains, historically supplying civilizations from Egypt to Renaissance Europe.
About Franco Uomo
Franco Uomo is a luxury menswear brand rooted in Afghan heritage and Italian craftsmanship. Every garment reflects a dedication to precision tailoring, personal expression, and timeless style.
