By Designer Thony C. Anyiam.
A missed opportunity: The Michelle Obama inauguration dress controversy.
A controversial article “Co-founder of
Black Artists Association slams Michelle Obama’s“ kumbaya designer pick for her
inaugural dress”, in WWD magazine seems to have struck the nerves of people on both sides of
the issue. Opinion expressed on this topic in the cyber
world, have been passionate, and intense. The unflinching admiration for the
first lady Michelle Obama is not in doubt, judging from the number of people
that came to her defense.
The first lady’s prerogative to choose the
designer of her choice has never been in question, and she was under no
obligation to pick an African American designer to design her inauguration
dress. That should be base on merit, and comfortability with the designer’s work.
For some in the media to make it a racial issue is wrong.
Mrs. Obama is known for her support of lesser
know label, and minority designers, a gesture that is often, and rightly so
praised. We hope other celebrities would follow her lead, because we need all
the help we can get.
I was one of the fortunate designers that
sent sketches to the first lady’s office for consideration unfortunately; I did
not meet the deadline, (my fault). Nevertheless, the huge notoriety and
economic benefit from designing the President and first lady’s inauguration
outfits cannot be over emphasized.
African American (black) designers were once
referred to as “endanger species” because they are often ignored by the main
stream print and broadcast media. They rarely participate in big fashion week
events due to lack of sponsorships, and financial backing / support despite
their enormous talent and creativity.
Yes, in the course of the first lady Mrs.
Obama stay in the White House, she will wear outfit design by an African
American (black), designer, but the core or underline issue as far as the dress
controversy is concern is the missed opportunity to have a gown design by an
African American designer on display in the Smithsonian of American
History Museum with other first ladies gowns. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that does
not happen very often, and
Like so many people, I thought the President and First lady could have worn more than one outfit, (any designer would be obliged to donate free of charge) to the nine inaugural balls they attended, which by itself create the opportunity to wear outfit from more than one designer.
While I congratulate designers Isabel Toledo
and Jason Wu, let us look forward to the 20013 inauguration.
Thony C Anyiam is a
Email:
Website: www.anyiams.com
Phone: 301-277-5789