It is hard to overestimate the contribution of Eunice Johnson (1916-2010) to African American fashion in the United States. She and her husband were the founders of Ebony and Jet. Although she worked as secretary and treasurer for the Johnson Publishing Company, early on she began to follow her passion for couture fashion. Rather than keeping that love to herself, she shared it widely with Black audiences throughout the United States through her runway show, the Ebony Fashion Fair. The yearly events raised money for Black hospitals, charities, and scholarships.
Born in Selma, Alabama, Johnson moved to Chicago to get a Master’s Degree in social work. There she met her husband and together they built up a Black publishing empire. She started the Fashion Fair as a charity event for a friend in 1958. Eventually the road show traveled throughout the country, making some 200 stops a year. It lasted until 2009, a year before her death.
She became well acquainted with French couturiers and used her influence to champion the careers of Black models. Pat Cleveland was one who benefited from her patronage. Discovering that there was no suitable makeup for the models, who had to mix their own, she started the Fashion Fair Makeup line for Black skin tones and made sure that her products made their way into department stores.
She also fostered the careers of Black designers, featuring their work in her shows. Stephen Burrows, Patrick Kelly, and Willi Smith all earned places on her runway.
Haute couture is a luxury item and it is unlikely that many in her vast audiences ever became customers. However, couture clothes are an art in themselves, presenting a level of craft seldom seen in stores. Eunice Johnson offered that pleasure to Black audiences nation-wide.
Fascinating! xxoo