Articles

Ebony Fashion Fair show falls victim to crippled economy

Category: National Published on Thursday, 10 September 2009 14:11 Written by NNPA News Service

(NNPA)—After more than 50 years of vibrant colors, decorative runways and models of color ranging from stick thin to plus-size, the Ebony Fashion Fair show has called it quits, at least for now, a (Philadelphia Inquirer) article reported.

Organizers of the Ebony Fashion Fair have canceled the annual fashion showcase this year due to the economic slowdown. Staged annually at venues across the country, it hopes to return in 2010.

The Ebony Fashion Fair show has raised more than $55 million during its history to benefit various causes and African-American groups, according to Johnson Publishing chairman and CEO, Linda Johnson Rice.

But a slow economy has caused many corporate sponsors and investors to withdraw from the successful showcase. “The overall economic climate has presented challenges for many, including our potential corporate sponsors,” said Rice in a statement.

To date, there have been more than 4,000 shows performed in the U.S., Caribbean and London, according to a company representative. The featured clothing generally includes high-brow couture pieces from various international fashion weeks and “ready-to-wear” items from up-and-coming designers.

(Special to the NNPA from the Afro American newspapers.)