Decatur Designer's Event to Showcase Models With Disabilities

A leading fashion designer, based in Decatur, GA will be holding an annual fashion showcase extravaganza, designed to provide a unique platform for models with disabilities to shine on the runway. As a fashion design house, Fashion by D’Shacourt Studios has long been a trailblazer in the metro-Atlanta area, for incorporating models with special needs in its fashion shows.

“An Evening of Fashion of Elegance” was created by Sharon Gary-Dill, owner of Fashion by D’Shacourt Studios, to not only showcase the beauty, grace and elegance of typical models, but also those with disabilities. In addition, the event will also shed light and awareness about issues facing the disability community, such as accessibility, employment, overlooked abilities, etc., as well as other societal issues of importance to her, such as human trafficking.

“I’m extremely excited about the upcoming “ An Evening of Fashion and Elegance” event and all the amazing designers, models, personalities, entertainers, sponsors and the team involved in helping me to pull this together,” says Gary-Dill, who was recently nominated among the 2017 “Atlanta’s Hottest” in the Designer category. “However, I’m most excited about helping to shine a light on the imperfect perfection in all of us, including people with disabilities,” shared Gary-Dill. “There are two areas that I don’t believe receive as much attention as they should, and those are the trials and triumphs surrounding people with disabilities and their families, and the growing travesty of human trafficking in Atlanta. We will be sharing information about both at this event, through some special guests.”

Besides Fashion By D’Shacourt Studio designs, there will also be five other leading designers participating in “An Evening of Fashion and Elegance.” They include Vivian Dinkins-Stith of VDinx Designs; LaWanda Scales of Wisper Couture, Howard Gillespie of HGII International , EJ Battle of Battle Design Boston and Lamar Clickety Clack

Hosting the fashion event will be WSB-TV Channel 2 anchor, Tom Jones and his wife, Yolanda and there will also be live performances by Jazz Pianist, Madoca Kawahara; Jazz Singer, Susan “Tomi” Berry; Recording Artist, Nella-Joi and Comedian Michelle Hodges, AKA, Mz. Wallstreet .

Also performing will be Jazz Saxophonist, Jarrien Irving, a young musician who is visually impaired representing Abel 2 Non Profit. Abel 2 Non Profit’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and the under-served, through music and arts opportunities for employment and enjoyment. In addition, the vision is to create self-confident agents of change to dismantle unintended barriers. The organization will be receiving a portion of the event’s proceeds

Gary-Dill has formed strategic partnerships with companies who want to help her with her vision of executing this event. They include sponsors such as N’Spired Images, E.E.E. Marketing Group, Jesse’s Restaurant Lounge, Queen of Hearts Girls and Women’s Empowerment, AJ’s Catering Service, JR GraFix, Beauty Flies Make-up, Belle Vu Images, Lady T, etc.

Founded in 2004, Fashion by D’Shacourt Studios has been growing steadily ever since. As Gary-Dill’s fashion design star continues to rise, her customer base is also growing to include film, television, theatre and music artists in the southeast. She is also a regular participant in the International Beautiful You Fashion Tours in cities across the country, including showcasing her designs and her signature models with disabilities, at Beautiful You events during New York Fashion Week in 2016 and 2017.

“This will be our third “An Evening of Fashion and Elegance” event that we’ve held and it gets bigger and better each time,” says Gary-Dill. “I believe this one is truly going to be one of the most memorable, in that we have an incredible line up of hosts, designers, models, speakers and performers for audiences to enjoy, and our segment featuring our models with disabilities will be a moving experience for those who haven’t had a chance to see them work the runway. It’s an unforgettable experience,” she continued. “I love fashion and believe that everybody wants to look and feel beautiful! As someone who has personal experience working as a caregiver for adults with both mental and physical challenges, my goal is to try in some way to help raise the self esteem and confidence, and allow people to see their significant abilities, as well as the incredible inner and outer beauty that resides within each one of them.“

“An Evening of Fashion and Elegance” will be held on Sunday, February 25, beginning at 4:00p.m, at the Smyrna Community Center, located at 200 Village Green Circle, SE, Smyrna, GA 30080. Tickets for the event are $25 for general admission and $50 for VIP, and can be purchased by going to https://www.dshacourt.com/thecause.