Posted by | Ray Cornelius

The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) is pleased to announce Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair,  a story of vision, innovation and power told through the prism of iconic fashion from Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint-Laurent, Patrick Kelly and Emanuel Ungaro among others. Initiated by the late Eunice Johnson, co-founder of Johnson Publishing Company, the Ebony Fashion Fairs have a long history in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast, although they toured many parts of the Americas.

Organized by Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company, Inspiring Beauty  is the first-ever exhibition on the Ebony Fashion Fair, providing a glamorous retrospective experience on the 50-year history of the charity fashion spectacle that redefined the concepts of beauty, style and empowerment for African Americans. Objects including ensembles and accessories, as well as archival photographs and video explore the runway experience and examine the history of the traveling show and its director and producer, Eunice W. Johnson.

“My mother often spoke about the importance of African American women feeling beautiful,”  said Linda Johnson Rice, chairman, Johnson Publishing Company.  “The Ebony Fashion Fair legacy represents an important part of the rich African American cultural experience in America, and I am extremely excited that this exhibition is bringing my mother’s vision to life in museums throughout the country.”

Inspiring Beauty  is on view at MODA beginning October 19 through January 4, 2015 and will launch with an Opening Gala on Friday, October 17 welcoming honored guest Linda Johnson Rice.

Check out a SNEAK PEEK below:

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Click here for tickets and more information.

Photo Credit: Patrick Kelly/Pintrest.com

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