From: ASAP
The Absolut Spirits Company, today announced that the city of Los Angeles would serve as this year's final venue for Absolut Africa, a national, touring fashion show and fundraiser, featuring apparel by some of Africa's leading designers. The Los Angeles Absolut Africa Show will not only mark the two-year anniversary of the program, but also marks the first time an established fashion designer will be featured. The Absolut Spirits Company has selected internationally renowned designer Kevan Hall, former design and creative director for Halston as the show's featured designer. The Absolut Africa show made its 2000 U.S. premiere in New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Chicago. The event comes to Los Angeles after making 2001 appearances in Cleveland and Atlanta. The show will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., December 10, 2001, at the Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca. Created in 1998, the Absolut Africa benefit was developed to celebrate, recognize, and lend financial support to African-American social service, advocacy and health-focused organizations. "As the Absolut Africa marketing and community relations initiative celebrates its two-year anniversary, we are proud of the programs' accomplishments in helping raise awareness of and lend support to talented African-American designers and organizations whose ongoing good work enhances the quality of life within the African-American community," said Carl Horton, President and CEO, Absolut Spirits Company. "Given the caliber of Kevan Hall's status as one of America's prominent fashion designers, we are very excited to bring this unique event to Los Angeles." The core of the Absolut Africa fashion show features the work of nine prominent African designers, whose fashions highlight the styles and traditions indigenous to their homelands. The designers are: Alphadi of Niger; Dou Couture of Mali; Pathe O of Burkina Faso; Nawal El Assad of Abidjan; Dasha of Senegal; Colle Sow Ardo of Dakar; Pepita D of Benin; Katoucha of Guinea and Michael Kra of the Ivory Coast. The designs of Kevan Hall, who recently launched his own signature line, Kevan Hall Collection, will also be featured. In 1998, Hall was named design and creative director of the house of Halston. He was responsible for successfully re-positioning the brand and overseeing its licensing entities worldwide. During his two-year tenure, his signature eveningwear was worn by a distinguished coterie of celebrated artists, including musical performers Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle and actresses Lauren Holly, Christine Lahti, Charlize Theron and Minnie Driver, to name a few. Absolut Vodka's ongoing commitment to the African-American community includes showcasing the talents and contributions of African-American artists and fashion designers; awarding educational scholarships; sponsoring and supporting events and organizations in communities throughout the country. To date, through the Absolut Africa event, Absolut has made charitable contributions to a host of worthy organizations and causes, including the Atlanta-based charitable organization and magazine, Women Looking Ahead, Inc.; US Helping US; the Max Robinson Foundation; Fashion Outreach; the Urban League of Philadelphia; Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter); N'DIGO Foundation; The Links (Cleveland Chapter); Society of Urban Professionals (SOUP); and 100 Black Men of America (Cleveland Chapter). The invitation-only event will include luminaries from Los Angeles' entertainment, fashion, cultural arts, hospitality, civic and business communities. The event, hosted by Emmy-nominated journalist and Cable Ace Award recipient Rolanda Watts, will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, and fashion show. The Absolut Spirits Company, a business area within V&S Vin & Sprit AB, is the brand owner and producer of ABSOLUT VODKA, ABSOLUT PEPPAR, ABSOLUT CITRON, ABSOLUT KURANT and ABSOLUT MANDRIN. ABSOLUT is the third largest international spirit in the world and is marketed in 125 markets. ABSOLUT is made at distilleries near Ahus, Sweden. The head office is in Stockholm. Future Brands LLC, a joint venture between Jim Beam Brands and The Absolut Spirits Company, handles the distribution of ABSOLUT in the U.S.
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