Powerful, black women in red: Black Fashion and Beauty Gala to launch in September 2021

BY SELINA McCALLUM

Beautiful black women of all different skin tones, sizes and shapes stood tall and boldly for the promo photoshoot on Sunday, August 23^rd, for the Black Fashion and Beauty Gala. The gala will launch in September 2021.

The Black Fashion & Beauty Gala (BFBG) is an organization created to support, celebrate, and award the accomplishments and contributions of black creatives in the fashion and beauty industry here in Canada. They provide mentorship of up and coming talents and grants to foster new talents in school and boosting of new and existing businesses in the black community.

“Not many people are aware of the black fashion and beauty scene that we have here in Toronto. We want to tell their stories, but this is also for promotion of the event in September 2021,” said Sandra Gabriel, Director of Public Relations.

Ann-Marie Daniel-Barker is the President and Event Director of the Black Fashion and Beauty Gala.

“I decided to pull together powerful black women, which is the first of the series, to do a photoshoot to show unity, as well as promote and to market the many talents that are in Toronto,” said Daniel-Barker.

There was a group of sixteen black business owners in the fashion and beauty industry that came together to do the photoshoot.

One of the designers present at the photoshoot was a designer that goes by Zoba Martin who has been designing since 2016.

“I would describe Zoba Martin as one of a kind and memorable. Every piece I make I try to put my best in it and play with materials, patterns and designs because I want the piece to be something that you would keep forever and hopefully hand it down,” said Martin.

She heard of the photoshoot through a message she received from the President of the Black Fashion and Beauty Gala.

“Mystique actually sent me a message asking if I was interested, and I said yes sign me up! I like opportunities to show my skills and to meet people in my industry,” said Martin.

Martin says that the pandemic put a hold on her business.

“I focus on bridal dresses mostly. Due to the pandemic, a lot of weddings and proms were cancelled so that kind of put a hold on things, but things are picking back up right now, so I’m happy,” said Martin.

Francine Francis has been a hair stylist for the last twenty-five years. She owns Francine Francis Hair Studios in Toronto. One of her many great accomplishments includes working with Queen Latifah.

“It’s a beautiful event. It’s great being amongst black, beautiful women doing great things. The unity and togetherness is beautiful,” said Francis.

Francis looks forward to the gala in 2021.

“I’ve never been a part of anything like this so it’s new and it’s exciting. We need to showcase the talent that’s here in the city and it’s good to have a voice, and just to be recognized because there is a lot of great talent and I find that it’s drowned out. We don’t get the recognition that is needed,” said Francis. “So, this is a great event to showcase our talent.”

The director of BFBG says that people can expect so many things at the gala from celebrity guest appearances and performances to behind the scenes with influencers. There is also a much-anticipated awards portion of the night.

“The public gets to nominate a fashion stylist, designer, photographer, you name it. Then we will release the nominees and the public can vote,” said Daniel-Barker.

As a fashion stylist and designer, herself, Daniel-Baker says that is it is important for black creatives to have their own platform, and also be given the room to shine.

“I feel like the black creatives in Toronto are just left out of everything that’s going on. There is so much hidden talent here. You don’t have to go to the states to get the talent, it’s right here. The industry is already tough to begin with, it’s very hard to crack into, so our white counterparts have it easier than us. They get more of the opportunities and better pay,” said Daniel-Baker.

For the promo shoot, all the women wore red, which is Daniel-Baker’s favourite colour.

“I think that red is so powerful, and I feel that all black ladies wearing red, we exude that power. We show we’re here, strong, united, and we’re working together,” said the director of BFBG.

The photos will promote the gala as well as be in the first fashion magazine made by the BFBG team. The magazine will feature both men and women and include individual photos of them and interviews highlighting their work in the fashion and beauty industry in Canada.

“I’m all about one help each other, not one help one. As black folks, there’s a stigma that we don’t uplift each other. For me, I look at it that we have to turn around and help, and sometimes we have to step outside of our comfort zone because then it’s for the greater good,” said Daniel-Baker.