Visit a participating Macy's for a celebration of her courage, triumph and glamour; EBONY will unlock Eunice's private archives and we'll bring to life the spectacular couture and decades of designer looks from EBONY FASHION FAIR® with special exhibitions and fabulous Fashion Fair fetes.
A woman with a LOVE of color and a passion for helping others, Eunice W. Johnson started EBONY FASHION FAIR® in 1956 as a fundraiser for a New Orleans hospital. Under her direction, the EBONY FASHION FAIR® grew to become the world's largest fashion show, touring across America and internationally.
Born in 1916 in Selma, Alabama, Johnson received a degree from Talladega College in Alabama and a master's degree from Loyola University in Chicago. She worked as a social worker until 1945, when she joined her husband to start the first magazine committed to showcasing the triumphs and lifestyles of people of color.
Ever the style-minded businesswoman, Eunice named the magazine EBONY, and together with her husband worked tirelessly to build the publishing empire, Johnson Publishing Company, which also went on to produce JET magazine. In 2010, EBONY celebrated its 65th anniversary, while JET will turn 60 in 2011.
Bringing together her love of fashion and her desire to give back, Eunice created the EBONY FASHION FAIR®. She spent decades traveling the globe to select the most glamorous creations from the world's greatest couturiers and designers. Along the way she earned a reputation as one of the world's most prominent fashion icons.
A great couture client, friend to the designers and voracious advocate for black women, Eunice charmed and cajoled the fashion world to include women of color on the runways of Europe's and America's oldest and most storied fashion houses.
Eunice's eye for showmanship, Southern grace and natural style set the tone for the EBONY FASHION FAIR® spectaculars. From its inception, EBONY FASHION FAIR® has toured 180 cities across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and raised over $55 million for scholarships.
Through these shows, Eunice brought fashion to generations of women around the world and inspired women from all walks of life to celebrate their style and embrace fashion. EBONY FASHION FAIR® launched the careers of many of the most important black models, including Iman, Pat Cleveland and Terri Springer, as well as numerous black celebrities from film, television and politics.
While traveling with the show, Eunice noticed that her models had to mix their own makeup to achieve the correct pigments for their skin tones. In response, she launched Fashion Fair Cosmetics®, which revolutionized the way generations of black women saw themselves and taught them to dress and live for the LOVE of color. Enjoy the pictures below from her collection!
Special Guest - Linda Johnson Rice
Chairman
Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.
Just like her parents John and Eunice W. Johnson, Linda Johnson Rice has been influential in the success of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., home of Ebony and Jet magazines and Fashion Fair Cosmetics®. Under her current leadership as chairman, the company remains the No. 1 African-American owned-and-operated publishing company in the world. Named by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of Chicago's 100 Most Powerful Women and one of the Top 10 Women In Media, Rice's influence extends far beyond the boardroom.
She strongly believes in enhancing the future of today's youth by supporting several education initiatives and corporate internship programs, as well as the John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University. Through Ebony Fashion Fair®, Johnson Publishing Company has donated more than $55 million to charitable causes, many related to education.
Special Guest - Desiree Rogers
Chief Executive Officer
Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.
Desiree Rogers, chief executive officer (CEO) of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., has earned a reputation as one of America's most successful businesswomen. As CEO, Rogers oversees the day-to-day operations of the company. She is responsible for aligning core business strategies for all brands, including EBONY and JET magazines and Fashion Fair Cosmetics®.
A bold visionary, Rogers has the ability to develop creative solutions for mature organizations facing changing industry dynamics or consumer tastes, such as the Illinois Lottery, the Allstate Corporation and even the White House, where in 2008, she was named the first African American Social Secretary. With a Harvard Business School degree and stellar business experience, Rogers has redefined every leadership position that she has held while playing a major philanthropic role in the communities in which she has lived.
For more information visit, http://www.macys.com/campaign/sitelets/blackhistory/index.jsp?cm_mmc=VanityUrl-_-celebrate-_-n-_-n
No comments:
Post a Comment