NEW YORK
– The Thurgood Marshall College Fund once again
celebrates the spirit of innovation in fashion with a
presentation of the collections of established and
emerging African and Latino American fashion designers
at
Front Row, its 4th Annual
Fashion Show
on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Roseland
Ballroom,
239 West 52nd Street
at 8:00 p.m. in Manhattan.
Front Row
is one of the largest annual fashion shows in New York City dedicated to breakthrough fashion
designers and a three-time sold out event. With its
growing popularity,
Front Row’s
red carpet has become the place for
fashionistas, celebrities and New York tastemakers to
be and be seen making it one of the most anticipated
events of the year.
Adding to its popularity is this year’s host, the lively
Sherri Shepherd,
co-host of
The View and
star of her own sitcom on Lifetime Television titled, ‘Sherri.’
Featured designers include:
Byron Lars, Russell
Simmons Argyle Culture, Kai Milla Designs, Angela Dean
for DeanZign, a special new ethnic line from
Walmart,
Nico & Adrian, Annie
S Intimates, Amsale, Francis Hendy, Montgomery
and innovative emerging designers,
Magnami Style & Company
and Ellie
Owen.
Front Row
also pays tribute to trailblazers in the fashion
industry with its
Fashion Icon Award, saluting individuals who
have influenced style and fashion and embody the spirit
of leadership and commitment to their craft. The 2009
honorees are: Supermodel
Naomi Campbell,
international make-up artist
Sam Fine;
Emmy award winning hairstylist
Andre Walker;
and Fashion Institute of Technology President,
Dr. Joyce F. Brown.
The 2009 Avante
Garde Award will be presented posthumously to
the ‘King of Pop’
Michael Jackson.
“The
Front Row Fashion Show provides a unique
venue for some of the nation’s leading fashion designers
and emerging talents to showcase their creativity while
giving the event’s attendees a rare opportunity to
celebrate honorees’ contributions to the world of style,
fashion and industry leadership,” said Dwayne Ashley,
President & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund,
Inc.
“This event is also certainly about honoring
individuals who embody leadership, commitment and
service in their respective professions and in doing so,
opened doors of opportunity to young people, which is at
the heart of the TMCF’s mission.”
The 4th Annual
Front Row Fashion Show
is sponsored by: Mercedes Benz, Moёt &
Chandon, and Miller Coors.
Ross Burton,
lead make up artist for
The Oprah Winfrey Show
and Raquel Oden, UBS Managing Director are the
Front Row
Co-Chairpersons.
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The
Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Inc., named for the late
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice, was established in
1987 and represents 47 public Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) located in 22 states
with a population of well over 235,000 students. Over
the last 22 years, Thurgood Marshall College Fund has
awarded more than $100 million in leadership
development, scholarships, programmatic, and capacity
support, enabling over 7,500 students to attend public
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Thurgood
Marshall College Fund also provides internship programs
and joins corporate and foundation partners in providing
leadership training and support to students preparing
for undergraduate
and professional schools. Thurgood Marshall College Fund
is a 501(c) 3,
tax-exempt organization.