Once known across the United States as one of the fashion events for and by African-Americans, the Ebony Fashion Fair has influenced the perceptions of fashion, beauty, and business within the black community for decades. From the clever and precise runway techniques of its models to the cutting edge styles of its future designers, the Ebony Fashion Fair was and is an influence on runway performance art and the global branding of beauty.
Continues after the jump...
About:
The Ebony Fashion Fair is a traveling fashion show that was started in 1956 by Mrs. Jessie Dent, the wife of Dr. Albert W. Dent, a past president emeritus of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Dent approached Mr. John H. Johnson, publisher, chairman and CEO of Johnson Publishing Co. (the company that circulates Ebony magazine for those who don’t know), to sponsor a mini-fashion show fund-raiser for the Women's Auxiliary of Flint-Goodrich Hospital in New Orleans. According to the organization:
“The first show was such a success that Mr. Johnson, in consultation with Mrs. Eunice Johnson and Freda C. DeKnight, home service director, then decided to take it on a cross-country tour to benefit other worthy charities. Ten cities were selected in 1958 by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to host the first Ebony Fashion Fair. With the theme "Ebony Fashion Fair Around The Clock," the show featured four female models with DeKnight serving as commentator. Ticket prices ranged from $3.50 to $12. The prices remained that way from 1958 through 1966, with more than 50 percent of the earnings allocated for scholarships.”
Since its creation, the organization has had over 4,000 shows across the world and has raised $55 million for charity. The Ebony Fashion Fair created opportunities for black designers to showcase their designs to broad audiences, circumventing the censorship and racist repression many suffered through in fashion industry. Black models were also given new chances of discovery and breakout success from working with the E.F.F. In 2001, Mrs. Dent passed away at the age of 96. Mrs. Johnson passed away this past January. Soon after, the Ebony Fashion Fair was placed on hiatus by Johnson Publishing Company, citing Johnson’s death as the main reason.
Aesthetics:
One of the main reasons I wanted to talk about this organization was because of the way they presented fashion to their audiences. It was true performance art (as you can see in the clip provided below). The turns, acting, and stage routines are all classic performance runway elements that are the precursor to what many of the college modeling troupes and underground ball room scene are still doing today. Though the future of the Ebony Fashion Fair is uncertain, the legacy and impact it has had on the African-American community is clear and profound, yet highly underrated.
Discussion:
It’s debated by many fashionistas, culture critics, and historians if the organization has any reason to exist. Many argue that the end of segregation and the breaking down of the fashion industry’s racist walls have created an inclusive environment for models and designers of African descent. This inclusivity they argue, has made the E.F.F. obsolete and a relic of the past. Supporters of the organization believe that it will always be needed so long as there is charitable work to be done. What do you guys think, should the Ebony Fashion fair see the runway again, or have the curtains fallen on this famous brand?
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