In support of the arts, Nordstrom held its 24th Annual Designer Preview event last week at the Parmamount Theatre in Seattle. Nordstrom partnered with the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) to host a fashion runway show and boutique shopping event, raising more than $170,000 for SAM.

“Nordstrom has always been a big supporter of the arts,” said Nordstrom’s Executive Vice President and President of Merchandising, Pete Nordstrom.

Nordstrom recently teamed up with El Gaucho restaurant in Bellevue to host an Armani Collezioni fashion event in support of the Performing Arts Center Eastside.

“We believe strongly in getting involved locally in the community,” Pete Nordstrom explained. “It is so important to connect with our shoppers on all levels and to really show our support for local causes.”

From its early beginnings, Nordstrom has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty retailer. The Bellevue store recently underwent one of the department store’s biggest remodel in the company’s history, courting high-fashion labels including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci.

The draw of high-fashion to Bellevue is not surprising considering 8 of the 10 wealthiest ZIP codes in the Puget Sound area are on the Eastside, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.

In addition to the renovation of Nordstrom, Bellevue will soon be home to the Dallas-based luxury retailer, Neiman Marcus, when The Shops at the Bravern open in September.

According to Pete Nordstrom, there is plenty of room for both retailers in Bellevue.

“Bellevue is just amazing,” he said. “Every time I visit the Bellevue store I’m in awe of how quickly the skyline is changing. I think the growth is a good thing for Nordstrom and it’s a good thing for Bellevue as a whole.”