Widely praised for her fashion choices, the FLOTUS is the ongoing subject of many fashion blogs and best-dressed lists, but it's not her taste in haute couture that has everyone talking. While Obama has described her style as "wear what you love," fashion blogger Mary Tomer Byun, founder of Mrs-O.com, says there is some important, if subtle, messaging there. "I do think there's a deliberate effort by the first lady and her team to showcase up-and-coming and lesser-known American design talents and to wear pieces from more affordable retailers."
The first lady's style team often selects from designers only known within fashion's inner circles, with selections from small labels like Isabel Toledo. Beyond going small, Obama's style choices are often symbolic -- a signature she has increasingly used. "For the most recent state dinner to host the president of South Korea, Mrs. Obama wore a draped jersey gown by South Korean-born designer Doo-Ri Chung," Byun says. "The sartorial nod showed respect for the culture of her dinner guests, which is just a wonderful gesture that elevates the role of fashion."
Her stylish choices are worth much more than just critical raves. According to a 2010 study published by the Harvard Business Review, Obama's wardrobe created $2.7 billion in value for 29 brands worn over the course of 189 public appearances from November 2008 to December 2009. While it's more difficult to measure the effect on small brands, many sing her praises long after their piece has been put back on the hanger. Indian designer Naeem Khan told The Wall Street Journal, "It's the gift that doesn't stop giving," 12 weeks after Obama donned a design to a state dinner.
"When Mrs. Obama wears one of our designs, we receive incredible feedback and piqued interest from retailers and editors on a global level," says Prabal Gurung, whose dresses have been chosen by Obama's style team several times. "Both have a direct effect on our business."
The National Preserve America Community application process for Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) was facilitated by Pilipino American Network and Advocacy (PANA), co-chaired by Dr. Ben Marte and Dr. Leo Pandac. As a Preserve America Community, HiFi will be featured in the National Register Travel Itineraries and in “Teaching with Historic Places” curricular materials created by the National Park Service. “PANA is grateful to First Lady Michelle Obama for bestowing HiFi with this honor.” said Marte, “We are also very proud to have facilitated the involvement of the many partners that made this designation possible, including Search To Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), My HiFi, the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), the HiFi Neighborhood Council, Inc., Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti, , the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and numerous other organizations and individuals.”
Historic Filipinotown was designated by the City of Los Angeles in 2002, culminating almost 30 years of advocacy by community leaders and activists seeking recognition of the area’s significance to the Filipino American Community. Downtown redevelopment after WWII displaced Los Angeles’ original Filipino enclave, causing many families to move west and settle along the Temple Street and Beverly Boulevard corridors. Today, the neighborhood is very diverse, with Filipinos living alongside numerous other ethnic and immigrant groups. However, it continues to serve as a historic and cultural center for the community, as evidenced by the numerous Filipino churches, community-based organizations, small businesses and other institutions still in existence. Additionally, the neighborhood is home to the Filipino WWII Veterans’ Memorial and Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana (A Glorious History, A Glorious Legacy), the largest Filipino American-themed mural in the country.
1Historic Filipinotown is part of the Asian and Pacific Islander Preserve American Neighborhoods (API PAN) project, which includes Los Angeles’ Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo and Thai Town. API PAN was initiated by the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) with the support of the Asian and Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP). This project aims to build collaboration and strengthen the respective neighborhoods by providing training and resources in historic preservation, cultural tourism, hospitality services, marketing and promotion. Leading HiFi’s involvement in the API PAN is Search To Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).
In addition to PANA and SIPA, another group working to promote Historic Filipinotown is My HiFi, which focuses on historic and cultural preservation. My HiFi is currently identifying the neighborhood’s heritage assets and promoting cultural tourism and community revitalization.
This includes a digital archive project of historic photographs and oral histories that will contribute to the City’s Office of Historic Resources “Survey LA” program. My HiFi is also developing an interactive, web-based map of the neighborhood’s cultural and historic places.
“Preserve America Communities are committed to preserving their past by using their heritage to build a better future,” said Wayne Donaldson, chairman of the Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).
“Historic Filipinotown’s designation as a Preserve America community is the result of the hard work of many community leaders who have brought the neighborhood’s rich and diverse history into the spotlight. I’m proud to represent Historic Filipinotown on the Los Angeles City Council and even prouder to have been able to work with the community to raise its profile in the rest of the city and in our nation,” said Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti.
Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-31), who also represents Historic Filipinotown, expressed his support: “Historic Filipinotown is a cultural hub for the Filipino American community and for many of us not of Filipino descent in Los Angeles. Its diversity in culture, thriving small businesses and engaged citizenry make it a landmark in the 31st congressional district. I congratulate all those who worked to make this designation possible and I applaud the Preserve America Initiative and First Lady Michelle Obama for honoring the Historic Filipinotown community with this great distinction.”
No comments:
Post a Comment