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THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE MADISON TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER |
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CENTERSPREAD STORY |
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Madison Metropolitan Links’ Gift Ebony Fashion Fair in Madison: A show to educate By Heidi M. Pascual
A cross section of people in Madison and neighboring areas braved the frigid and windy night to help Gwen and the Links raise the necessary funds to send more deserving youth of color to college. In the past 18 years, the Madison Links has awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships and $3,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds to college-bound and middle-school students. The Ebony Fashion Fair is the Links’ major fund-raiser for the purpose.
According to the show’s program, Ebony’s producer,
Eunice Johnson, says this year’s show was titled “Color Splash,”
because it “embodies the vibrant explosion of shades that currently
dominate the As this week’s center spread, Ebony Fashion Fair’s colors, designs, and glitters reflect the beauty of the holiday season. In that event, happiness was in the air; pleasantries were aplenty; and people just relaxed and enjoyed the show. Smiling faces from both the stage and the audience seemed to project a moment too good to be true. These days, such moments are very precious indeed. And what made such event more beautiful is that the Madison Metropolitan Links has achieved its goal, so Gwen and her friends now have something to give away. The Ebony Fashion Fair made it happen, and we’re happy to have been part of it.
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Gwen
Jones, current president of Madison Metropolitan Links, Inc.,
was visibly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, corporate
and individual, from the Madison community when her group held
the 46th Annual Ebony Fashion Fair at Alliant Energy Center
on Dec. 12. 
While
some people might simply see and enjoy the beauty of fashion
designs and the Black models who carry them, Ebony Fashion Fair
is much more than that. As the world’s only traveling fashion
show of its kind, Ebony Fashion Fair was created “to assist
sponsors in raising funds for the charity of their choice.”
Ebony’s performers and staff travel thousands of miles coast
to coast, to entertain by presenting a fabulous show of designer
clothes and accessories made by world-renowned fashion czars.
runways of the fashion world.” Johnson says the technique of
splashing appears to be the inspiration behind the dazzling
array of prints and patterns exemplified by designers such as
Hanae Mori and Zang Toi. All other designers featured in the
show likewise gave new twists to their creations by adding splashes
of borders or patterns, florals, stripes, or checks. From bold
geometric designs to plain fabrics hugging the bodice, from
flowing evening gowns to summer two-piece wear, from office
to casual attire, and from winter cover-alls to sexy night gowns,
Ebony Fashion Fair invited a very focused audience.