Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair

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The Ebony Fashion Fair Show started off as a mini-fashion show fundraiser. The show was such a success that is was decided that the show be taken on a cross country tour to benefit other charities. Ticket prices ranged from $3.50-$12. Over 4,000 shows have been performed to date in the U.S., the Caribbean, London, England and Jamaica. The Chicago History Museum currently has an Exhibition honoring the Ebony Fashion Fair that debuted March 15, 2013 and will be open through January 5, 2014.

“Imagine the surprise during initial appointments, meeting an African-American female reporter and buyer. It was unheard of. But she wasn’t asking to borrow. She was making large purchases for the fair, and money talks.”

“The show was first used as a platform to extend the reach of the magazine. It became a transatlantic tour that truly transformed the lives of those who saw it.”