Coined as the “World’s Largest Traveling FashionShow,” the Ebony Fashion Fair has continued in success for 47years, with this years theme, “Living It Up!”
This year the Ebony Fashion Fair’sprogram is full of unique and creative ideas. With two actsand eight scenes, the show offers the audience hours ofovergenerous, fashion-filled excitement. The scenes rangefrom “color contrast” to “tropical life,”with “hip-hop blues” in between. Ornamentationand lavish jewelry are also high points of the fashionextravaganza.
Ebony Fashion Fair has built a reputation asthe leader in “showing Black America the latest in highfashion.” With producer-director, Mrs. Eunice W.Johnson, as their guide, the “Fair” has become theeminent show in what is hot, sexy and hip for African Americansaround the world.
With fashion spanning the globe, the EbonyFashion Fair has showcased items of designers from America, Italy,France, Britain, Japan, and Canada. Some of the mainstreamdesigners featured include Anna Sui, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de laRenta, Issey Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent and Roberto Cavalli. The “Fair” also highlights noteworthy Black designerssuch as B. Michael, Stephanie Burrows, L’Amour, and Quintonde Alexander.
This year, the fair also highlights newcomer,Marie Claudinette Jean, designer and owner of Fusha Designs. Mrs. Jean, originally from Haiti, is currently residing in NewJersey with music sensation husband, Wyclef Jean. There shespends countless hours flourishing her flamboyant fashion line”Fusha,” launched in 2000.
Marie Jean’s creations are a fashionfuse combining aristocratic designs of the 18th centurywith unique aesthetics of the Caribbean. Her collectionsinclude bold, creative color combinations, intricately designedevening gowns, and stunningly sexy cocktail dresses. Jeanbelieves her creations are innovative but not “new,”she explains by stating,
“I don’t believe there is anythingunder the sun that can be considered new. It’s thatlittle twist that the individual gives to their craft that changesit into something remarkable and gives it new life.”
Fusha Designs can be located at Bryant inBryant Park, NY and www.FushaDesigns.net.
