Fifty Years of Ebony Fashion Fair

Let's take a fresh look back in time: it's 1979. You attended the 22nd Annual Ebony Fashion Fair in your hometown. The show's theme was "COLOR EXPLOSION." A beautiful Black model struts her stuff down the runway wearing Yves Saint Laurent…the Picasso evening dress to be exact.

The dress boasts beautiful power colors of red, blue and black, it's a silk number, a one-of-a-kind, made from luxurious moiré taffeta and satin. The model makes it clear she's the one in the dress, and you gasp and exclaim, "I want that dress!" That's the way an Ebony Fashion Fair show made you feel all the way to the bridal finale: the haute couture wedding dress that made your jaw drop.

The Laurent dress, worth at least $30,000, presented a visage of perfection on the Fashion Fair runway. It enticed the audience with luxurious, multi-colored geometric and artistic shapes. The Laurent evening dress was one of 7,000 pieces acquired by Mrs. Eunice W. Johnson, the titan of fashion and beauty for the Johnson Publishing Company, co-owned by her husband John H. Johnson. Johnson Publishing Company was known for publishing Ebony and Jet magazines.  

John Johnson once said they had to "beg, persuade, and threaten [for] the right to buy clothes."  The designers feared their clients' reactions to seeing haute couture designs on Black models.   This was before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination. At that time, the skin color of the Fashion Fair audience outweighed the Johnsons' purchasing power. Championing Black elitism and social uplift in spite of blatant racism, Fashion Fair traversed the country showcasing high fashion to the crème de la crème of Black society starting in 1958, with its final production in 2009.

"Mrs. Johnson was buying the best fashion of the time," said Joy Bivins, director of Curatorial Affairs at the Chicago History Museum. "There are these wonderful pieces and stories connected to her. The whole idea of bringing high couture to the masses at these shows was really quite revolutionary." 

In 2013, Bivins was responsible for the curation of the Fashion Fair "Inspiring Beauty" exhibit, a multisensory fashion experience that featured sixty-seven dressed mannequins of color. The exhibit was developed by the Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company, LLC. The exhibit is presented by the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum. The International Arts & Artists organization in Washington, D.C. is responsible for the exhibit touring eight museums in the United States.  

After the initial battles with racism, Mrs. Johnson eventually built privy business relationships with more than 100 designers in such cities as Paris, Rome, Milan, London, Tokyo and New York. She had a prowess for the dramatic and beautiful luxury of haute couture. Her close friendships with European couture designers like Laurent spanned five decades and showed African Americans the high life of fashion and beauty, while raising more than $55 million for charities. 

Black people would wait all year to attend the Fair, brought to them by local sororities, fraternities, lodges or social groups.  Each season was more exciting and spectacular than the prior. The show production featured a new fashion theme, garments, music and a fabulous commentator. For years, the charity fashion show was a mainstream cultural event with almost 200 shows per year in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Models thrilled audiences strutting the runway wearing Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Patrick Kelly, B. Michael, Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Burrows, and many more.

Since October 2014, the traveling "Inspiring Beauty" exhibit of 41 garments has been seen at seven museums including The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in D.C. After the exhibition's final stop in Raleigh, N.C. this fall, the exhibit will permanently retire at the Chicago History Museum and the Johnson Publishing Company. All the garments have appeared on the Fashion Fair runway from 1964 to 2009, and will be laid to rest for future exhibitions, not to be viewed any time soon. 

"We hoped to communicate that these things are beautiful, luxurious, and fantastical, but really they were about furthering a vision about the best of Black life, which is what Ebony magazine was about," Bivins said. "The fashion becomes a way of telling the story about Black aspiration.  At the end of the day, I hope people see it and are wowed by it."

Satori Designs sets up shop in Solana Beach

After more than 20 years in business, Satori Designs has finally found a home in Solana Beach.

Located in the heart of Cedros Design District, the shop features an eclectic collection of women's clothing and accessories in collaboration with local and international designers.

"This is my very first brick and mortar store," said owner Roya Parviz.

Inspired by art, music, travel and tradition, Satori Designs offers an array of apparel and accessories from around the world.

Among a variety of other pieces, the shop features a Barcelona-based clothing line called Desigual and another exclusive line from France called Rene Derhy. Much of the jewelry, shawls and other accessories come from local designers Parviz has personally worked with over the years. There is also a section for home décor with wall art, other decorations and more.

"I'm always on the lookout for something different," Parviz said.

Born in Iran, Parviz's family came to San Diego following the Iranian Revolution. As a young girl, Parviz was exposed to the fashion industry by her mother, who studied fashion design in Austria.

Parviz went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in visual arts from UC San Diego. After an unfulfilling year in banking, she followed her mother's footsteps and went on to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandizing in Los Angeles, where she lived and worked in the fashion industry for seven years.

Parviz started a wholesale business called Satori Designs in 1994. Her business has been a part of co-ops since she returned to San Diego a few years later.

She got her start in Solana Beach at Leaping Lotus. Also on Cedros Avenue, the store has more than 120 merchants in its 21,000-square-foot marketplace. Parviz later brought her business to Pangaea Outpost's Pacific Beach and Del Mar locations.

When Pangaea Outpost closed its store at Flower Hill Promenade, Parviz decided to open her own shop. After more than two decades in business, she opened her very first boutique in July at 146 South Cedros Avenue.

"I was forced to look for something, which was a blessing in disguise," Parviz said. "I never thought I could do it on my own."

Having become a staple in the greater San Diego fashion community since the late 1990s, Parviz often gives back to the community through her business. Satori Designs, she said, has participated in a number of charity fashion shows and fundraising events for local charities and foundations, including St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, Epilepsy Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and others.

"I've been doing that for years," Parviz said. "It just really feels good to give that kind of a feeling in the community."

Whether working with charities or with clients in her boutique, Parviz said she most enjoys getting to know people in the community. With established customers in Del Mar, Solana Beach and neighboring communities, she has already seen a lot of familiar faces as well as new ones at Satori Designs.

"I love the creative part just as much as I love the people part," Parviz said. "I'm not really in it to make a quick sale; I'm in it for a long-term relationship."

Salt Collection brings fashion from around the world to Encinitas

You could call it a fashion travel agency of sorts.

Salt Collection, which opened in Encinitas on March 4, may look like an ordinary 1930s beach cottage. As people walk inside, it's immediately known that it's something more — a quaint fashion boutique that carries brands from all over the world.

The idea for the shop on Coast Highway 101, which is owned by Sophie Machado — wife of professional surfer Rob Machado — was to incorporate collections that the couple has discovered in their travels around the world.

Sophie Machado, who has lived in Encinitas for seven years with her family, said she and her husband have come to know many of the designers and owners personally.

"I originally just wanted to open an online store, but both of my parents taught me to dream big and shoot for the stars," she said. "I wanted to create the experience, and I felt like I couldn't do that through just photographs. I wanted people to be able to feel like they were a part of meeting the people we've met along the way. I felt like the only way to do that was to open a store and be able to create an environment."

Sophie Machado said she decided to open the store in October and received the keys to the building, located at 930 South Coast Highway 101, in December.

The shop sells mostly women's clothing — basics, tops, bottoms, swimwear, outerwear, active wear and shoes — but also has racks for unisex children's and men's clothing.

The dozens of brands include People Footwear, Steve Madden, Jaye Swim, Acacia Swimwear Olympia Activewear and Roarke Revival.

Sophie Machado said customers can build an outfit, including shoes, tops and pants, at the store for between $75 and $200.

"We wanted something that would be affordable," she said. "We didn't want to go super high-end and scare people away. ... That's how I shop. I'm not going to spend a ton of money on something that's just trendy. But if it's a great piece of furniture or an amazing jacket I can have multiple uses for, then I'm going to definitely put out the cash for it."

All the fixtures inside, including decorations, couches and plants are also all for sale.

"I don't like walking into a store, liking something and being told it's display-only," Sophie Machado said. "Everything in our store is for sale."

Rob Machado also sells one-of-a-kind, gloss-polished surfboards that are available exclusively at Salt Collection.

Candles, sunglasses and teas also fill shelves in the store, which still maintains its classic bungalow feel.

The Machados have kept a working kitchen with its original green tile in the store, where they serve cups of coffee and ring up customers.

People can also choose to lounge on the back patio, which is adorned with outdoor chairs and pillows, as well as a garden.

"We wanted to keep it as original as possible," Sophie Machado said. "This is where Rob grew up and where we're living. This spot is more than we could have ever dreamed of. There's a ton of real estate around here, but I wanted something that was unique, had character and had some sort of life to it. I think we found that here."

Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon event to salute first responders

Helen Woodward Animal Center's Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon marks its 11th year on a very important date – 9/11. Paying tribute to the wonderful first responders and their working dogs who keep people safe, this year's surf spectacular will include patriotic ceremonies with special tributes for the heroes (both human and canine) who show their skills and bravery on dry land. The 11th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon is presented by Blue Buffalo and takes place at Dog Beach Del Mar on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Helen Woodward Animal Center will never forget Sept. 11 and the heroes who were there to assist. On this very important date, the Center's annual event will include special moments of acknowledgement for the brave individuals who protect and serve our country and citizens. Honorary activities will include a Color Guard (California State University, San Marcos, Army reserve Officer's Training Corps); a moment of silence; the National Anthem sung by Hospital Corpsman Third Class Grace Layugan (stationed on board the Naval aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt at North Island); a San Diego Police Department Search and Rescue K9 demo; and a First Responder tribute ceremony with plaques presented to men, women and canines from all working units.

Sharing the special day with fuzzy military heroes will be over 80 dogs who have prepped throughout the summer to surf at Helen Woodward Animal Center's largest canine surf competition in the country. Dogs, with help from their human parents, will participate in 10-minute heats based on weight class. Each dog is judged on their ability to ride the waves, stay on the board, and have lots of fun. First, second and third place winners will be awarded for each weight class and the first place winners will move ahead to the finals--Best In Surf.

This year's activities will also feature a freestyle surf contest where points will be awarded for creativity! Dogs can surf on the same board as their friends, or favorite human. Tandem rides, tricks, and costumes are all encouraged to catch the public and the judges' eyes! Each surFUR heat will be judged by celebrities, surf pros and aficionados.

Other dog-and-family friendly activities scheduled throughout the day include live beach tunes, food trucks, the pup-ular Canine Costume Contest, fun Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon merchandise for sale, over 50 interactive vendor booths; and a special FREE Kid's Activity area – with crafts, face painting, games and more.