Michelle Williams continues to expand her brand and make a name for herself in the entertainment industry with a new reality series, My Sister’s Keeper. Produced and distributed by Entertainment One (eOne), the series will follow Williams’ journey of writing and recording her third Gospel album, and other aspects of her life.

“I am very thrilled about this opportunity, to extend into television with the eOne family as well, with this series,” she said in a release.

“Working together on my new gospel album and television series, I am excited to share with everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and journey of recording for the album, performing, fun family times and other unforgettable experiences out together with my dear sisters.”

One of those sisters sang alongside Williams in a gospel group, United Harmony. Destiny’s Child fans may remember a mini reunion that Williams had during an interview with Ananda Lewis on MTV’s TRL. Fans will have to watch the show to see what musical surprises, if any, the Williams sisters may be cooking up.

“We’re very excited to expand upon our relationship with Michelle on this new collaboration that will provide fans with a peek into her everyday life,” said Tara Long, Senior Vice President of U.S. Alternative Programming.

“eOne’s versatility across all pillars of entertainment from music, film and television through development, production and distribution enables us to offer comprehensive multi-platform opportunities for our partners.”

Williams’ career in entertainment spawns more than a decade. She got her start as a background singer for R&B singer Monica in 1999 and joined Destiny’s Child in 2000.  Alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, Williams traveled the globe, selling out shows and collecting major music awards. In 2002, however, she branched out and forged a solo career.

On April 16, 2002 Williams released Heart to Yours via Sanctuary Records and Columbia Records. The album was well received by critics and performed marginally well on the music charts. Do You Know followed in 2004 and featured appearances by former band mates Knowles and Rowland. Knowles and younger sister Solange also wrote and produced on the album. Again, the album received positive reviews. The album did not perform as well as its predecessor though. In 2008 Williams ventured from gospel music and issued a dance/pop album titled Unexpected.  The album was a commercial disappointment. It is Williams’ lowest selling album to date.

In 2003 Williams made her Broadway debut in Aida, replacing Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton in the lead role. The year 2007 saw Williams star in Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple, followed by a ground breaking, historical portrayal as Roxie Hart in Chicago in 2009. Williams is the first woman of color to take on the lead role. In 2011, Williams made a brief departure from the Broadway stage to act in a David E. Talbert play, What My Husband Doesn’t Know. Broadway fans saw Williams return to them in 2013 with a role in Fela!

In addition to being a singer, songwriter and actress, Williams is also a philanthropist, designer and a minority owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

Image Courtesy : Michelle Williams

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Africa has served as inspiration to the fashion industry for many years, and it doesn’t seem like that will be changing anytime soon. In 2010 Western designers caught African print fever and painted the runways in bold, colorful ensembles. The trend continued in 2011 and 2012. Do African designers mind that Western designers such as Gwen Stefani, Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg are gaining recognition for their use of African prints and textures? Some may, but Gareth Cowden is not one of them.

“Yes, we are definitely going through a phase of influencing [and/or] inspiring the world’s bigger fashion houses,” said Cowden. “But it doesn’t offend me that these people get recognition for their designs. These designers have a better platform to be noticed. At the end of the day they are helping African designers [and] designs get noticed.”

Cowden has been in the fashion industry for nearly a decade; however, fashion was not his original career plan. His foray into fashion was purely out of necessity. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, he could not find employment. Consequently, he began working as an assistant to fashion stylists in 2002. Since 2004 he has worked as a freelance fashion stylist and in 2009 he founded BABATUNDE. Babatunde is a Yoruba name that means “the father returns.” Cowden believes that it is the responsibility of men to care for their families and their country.

“Many kids in Africa grow up without fatherly influences in their lives due to various reasons,” Cowden said. “In my opinion, this has an adverse effect on disciplinary and respect issues later in life. [Babatunde] is also a reference to our leaders to father and grow our nations rather than growing their own pockets. All in all, we need more fathers to father and nurture Africa to where we deserve to be.”

Cowden is not as dedicated to fashion as much as he is dedicated to helping others. His brand, which features hats, umbrellas, bowties and clutches, is made completely by hand in South Africa. This is not done simply as a measure of pride for his native country, but to provide employment to those in the textile industry, which is vital to developing countries.

“This is done in an attempt to revive the textile and clothing industries in South Africa,” Cowden said. “These industries are slowly dying in South Africa due to cheap labor in countries like China and India resulting in it being a lot cheaper to import fabric and clothing than to manufacture locally.”

It is not only cheaper to import fabric and clothing to Africa, it is cheaper to import Asian immigrants to Africa as well. In 2002 Ramatex opened a factory in Namibia and promised to hire 8,000 workers. Instead of hiring locally, the company imported 25 percent of the employees from Asia. These employees were paid less than the Namibian employees and, to make matters worse, ended up in debt to the company. Due to their low wages, the Asian employees could not afford to pay back the traveling expenses that the company had fronted. Ten years later, Asian immigrants are steadily being imported into the country to provide cheap labor.

Many manufacturing companies in Asia and other countries are relocating to Africa due to a rise in domestic labor costs. Africa has low labor costs, in addition to duty-free access to American and European markets under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. Cowden realizes the importance of manufacturing in Africa. For this reason, he would never relocate permanently.

“It is very important for me that everything is manufactured in South Africa or Africa,” Cowden said. “This is what makes Babatunde a strong African brand. I would definitely consider relocating temporarily. Travelling is very enlightening and helps with learning and growth, both personally and for the Babatunde brand.”

Also important to Cowden is creating awareness through fashion. He has been able to achieve great success as a designer and has been featured in many acclaimed print and online magazines. The audience he speaks his message to has become slightly larger since singer-songwriter Solange Knowles wore one of his hats during New York Fashion Week 2012.

“Due to popular culture and celebrity culture, exposure and awareness grows when ‘famous’ people wear your brand,” Cowden said. “Celebrities are always being featured in the media, so if they are wearing your products it’s easier for your brand to get noticed.”

Cowden is presently working on expanding the Babatunde brand by including more pieces such as trousers and shorts. For more information regarding Babatunde long onto www.babatundestyles.com.

Image Courtesy of   doigstar1

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When one thinks of fashion, several names come to mind. Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, John Galliano, Nina Garcia, Rachel Zoe, June Ambrose and Andre Leon Talley are a few. How about the name Gwenolyn Stephens? Well, for those who are not familiar with the name, don’t fret. Ms. Stephens has set out on a mission to change that.

Gwenolyn Stephens hails from rural Mississippi and has had a lifelong obsession with fashion. Inspired by her mother, who was “always dressed to impress and always had on a pair of heels,” Stephens has created Rock.Paper.Heels., a boutique located in Ridgeland, Mississippi, Rock.Paper.Heels is “the basis of every woman.” The rock represents diamonds, a girl’s best friend, while paper represents money and heels are an accessory that all women love.

Though she is not formally educated in the field of fashion, Stephens has worked extensively in retail and has studied fashion in her own right—presumably with the aid of her favorite fashion publications, Elle and Vogue. One might expect her to feel inferior to those who hold degrees from world famous fashion institutions; however, she does not. She says that although “[my] creditability may be questioned [at times], that gives me the opportunity to show what I am capable of.”

Another issue that many may consider a hindrance to Stephen’s brand is her location. Needless to say, no one considers Mississippi one of the fashion capitals of the world. Still, she will not be deterred from pursuing her dreams on her own terms. “When you’re good at what you do and stay true to yourself, no good deed goes unnoticed,” she says. “No matter where you are from, you will have the ability to shine and make a positive impact in the lives of others.”

In addition to the physical location in Mississippi, Rock.Paper.Heels also has an online boutique. There are a number of things that separate this boutique from others. For starters, Stephens and her staff offer customers a variety of styles. The online store is geared more towards lovers of the urban genre, whereas the physical location offers more sophisticated pieces.

The company also offers customization. They have partnered with a Japan-based designer to customize pieces and hope to expand into national and global markets. The final component that separates this brand from the various others is personal styling. “I have yet to see a boutique that offers styling tips to their customers which includes hair, makeup and accessories,” Stephens states. “We offer the complete package, not just the garment.” Stephens is dedicated to giving her customers all of the necessary tools in order to feel comfortable and confident with their image.

Furthering her efforts to improve the image of her customers, Stephens seeks to open a consultation firm which will be an extension of Rock.Paper.Heels. She acknowledges that image is everything and that it is important to look your best at all times whether one is going on a job interview, first date or to a social gathering. Of course, Stephens has far bigger dreams than styling the everyday Mississippi woman and those dreams could be summed up in two words: Solange Knowles.

“She does everything so effortlessly,” she states of her dream client who she lists as a fashion icon alongside Rihanna, Audrey Hepburn and David Bowie. “She does not follow ‘fashion rules’ and she steps outside the box which is what I love about her. She is a style chameleon.”

Stephens is passionate about her brand and hopes that others will be able to identify and connect with what she is offering to the fashion community. Rock.Paper.Heels opened on September 1, 2012 and is located at 103 West Washington Street, Suite B4 in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Gwenolyn Stephens may be contacted via telephone at (601) 427-5472 or rockpaperheels@gmail.com. If interested in reading up more on Stephens’ fashion philosophy, feel free to view her Fashion Bomb Daily ‘Fashion Bombshell of the Day’ submission.

Image Courtesy of  Zvonimir Atletic / Shutterstock.com

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