NC art museum exhibit celebrates 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair

For 50 years, the fair has featured African-America models on the runway in haute couture. Originally, the fair was presented by Johnson Publishing Company, a Chicago-based publisher that was home to Ebony and Jet magazine.  The museum's celebration of the decades-long show will be called "Inspiring Beauty: 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair."

Of course the fashion and the models are stunning, and that is was everyone wants to see. But attendees walk away with a greater understanding of how the fair has shaped fashion as a whole and paved a way for African-Americans to be recognized for their contributions to the industry.

The exhibit opens to the public on Oct. 28 and features 40 ensembles by a number of designers as well as photographs and memorabilia from Ebony magazine and the Fashion Fair shows.

Organizers said visitors will leave with an understanding of how founder Eunice Johnson featured black models, designers, makeup artists consumers to change to the concepts of beauty.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 21, 2018.