In 1973, Eunice Johnson, the founder of Ebony and Jet, noticed a problem: Black women had to mix their own foundation in order to find a color that matched their skin. To tackle the problem, Johnson launched Fashion Fair, the first national cosmetics company that focused entirely on Black women. The brand triggered a renaissance in style among Black women and the global cosmetics industry took notice. Now, Fashion Fair is staging its comeback as a Black-owned business in a new era defined by massive cultural shifts and increased competition. This film follows current Fashion Fair CEO Desiree Rogers and President Cheryl Mayberry McKissack as they chart a path as Black women entrepreneurs at the helm of a revived, iconic brand.
One can easily draw an analogy between the top-performing companies or entrepreneurs in tough times and top-performing sportsmen in a high-pressure arena, in the sense that both decide not to cut and run .
Brands like Fashion Fair and MADAM by Madam C.J. Walker that served the Black community in the 1900s are being resurrected by Black women entrepreneurs.
Brands like Fashion Fair and Madam, founded with the goal of serving Black communities, faded at the end of the last century. Now, they’re being revived with similar missions in mind.