{"id":5910,"date":"2022-02-01T01:49:49","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T06:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackfashioncanada.ca\/database\/?post_type=cpt_portfolio&p=5910"},"modified":"2026-02-18T02:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T07:02:08","slug":"ebonnie-rowe","status":"publish","type":"cpt_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/blackfashioncanada.ca\/database\/fr\/profiles\/ebonnie-rowe\/","title":{"rendered":"Ebonnie Rowe"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Fransi Weinstein<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Let\u2019s set the record straight. \u201cMy story in fashion is really about representation,\u201d says Ebonnie Rowe. In an industry plagued by racism, and a dominant Eurocentric beauty standard, Rowe saw an opportunity to further the positive representation of Black individuals, while challenging the negative stereotypes that haunted the media scene. \u00a0From 1983 -1986, her editorial articles in Contrast Magazine documented the Black fashion community and revealed their untold stories and challenges.<\/p>

Forty years later, she is still committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of her career and life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Early Life and Career<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Born in Montreal, Quebec in 1962 to Barbadian parents, Ebonnie Rowe traveled between Ottawa, Kingston and Barbados during her childhood, but spent most of her years growing up in Toronto from the age of twelve. Rowe recalls her interest in writing since she can remember, \u201cI\u2019ve always loved English from when I was a child. I\u2019ve loved reading, I loved plays.\u201d It’s no surprise that she went on to study English literature at the University of Toronto.<\/p>

In the early 1980s, Rowe began her position as a contributing editor at Contrast Magazine, a position that provided a perfect entry point for her true passion of social upliftment. \u201cI wasn\u2019t really a big fashion maven,\u201d she says. \u201cThe honest truth is, my goal with this column was to show beautiful people with substance behind them and positive things to say.”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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This special section creates a spread of 2 photos that will jut out into the side margin.<\/p>\n

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The honest truth is, my goal with this column was to show beautiful people with substance behind them and positive things to say.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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She fondly recalls a piece she wrote in 1986, about a 17 year old girl, Laurieann Gibson, who she described as, \u201cahead of her time and beyond her own age\u201d in regards to her hopes and dreams and what she wished to represent. Fast forward 35 years, Gibson, now an accomplished choreographer who has worked with the likes of Meghan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga and Beyonce, reflects on the article written by Rowe and is overcome with emotion after hearing her younger self.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s always gratifying and fulfilling to know that something that you\u2019ve done has had an impact,\u201d says Rowe, explaining how almost 40 years later Gibson has transcended to be one of the most successful choreographers of her time, while maintaining the same ideals she held as a 17-year old throughout the entirety of her career.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Breaking Barriers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Reflecting upon her time at Contrast Magazine, she recalls the tokenism that, until recently, plagued the industry. \u201cThe main thing would be what the [Black] models were experiencing in fashion,\u201d she says. \u201cIf they were going to sign someone, it was going to be someone with lighter skin, straighter hair. You wouldn\u2019t see one person with cornrows. Ever.\u201d<\/p>

When profiling models, Rowe felt obligated to not only acknowledge their talent and beauty, but would attempt to pull something instructive or inspirational. \u201cDivision comes from ignorance,\u201d she says. Her upliftment of Black models and talents provided a glimpse into their person and a deeper understanding on a human level for readers, in hopes to bridge the gaps of representation.<\/p>

Rowe understood that younger generations required a new method of instruction in order to further representation. \u201cYoung people don\u2019t like to be hit over the head with messages,\u201d says Rowe. Recognizing this, she continued her social upliftment and fight for representation through Honey Jam, a non-profit multicultural artist development programme, which she founded in 1995. \u201cI\u2019m trying to spread that diversity, equity and inclusion to as big an audience as possible,\u201d says Rowe.<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019d like people to expect the unexpected, to overcome preconceived bias,\u201d she says. \u201cSo I would go out of my way to find artists performing in genres that they weren\u2019t expected in, such as a Black artist performing opera or country music.\u201d Through Honey Jam, Rowe advocates for performers to be seen in a broader context and approaches larger organizations, pushing them to make diversity and inclusion a priority.<\/p>

Through Honey Jam, Rowe advocates for performers to be seen in a broader context, and approaches larger organizations, pushing them to make diversity and inclusion a priority.<\/p>

Rowe notes that after 2020 and the death of George Floyd, the industry shifted as well as the receptiveness of larger organizations to diversify their talent and themselves. \u201cThe fight for social justice did not begin in 2020 \u2026 but Covid allowed for an unprecedented amount of down time for reflection. It was a perfect storm,\u201d she says. \u201cIt took over our consciousness. People were stunned and felt the need to do something.”<\/p>

She understands better than most the difference between ticking a box versus real efforts to further diversity and inclusion. \u201cThe ones who blew me off for years, I have to question if that sudden responsiveness was genuine,\u201d Rowe states. While 2020 reignited the fight for social justice, Rowe notes that more must be done to continuously make diversity a priority rather than, \u201cI did this in February for Black history month so I\u2019m good for the rest of the year,\u201d she says.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Influence and Legacy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Her ability to capture the voices of young talent is unparalleled, continually uplifting individuals that have been consistent in their dedication to furthering representation. Rowe utilized her coverage of fashion and individuals in the industry as an opportunity to present positive representations of Blackness, in order to combat the negative stereotypes that perpetuated the media scene.<\/p>

In 2021, Rowe was awarded a trailblazer award by the Canadian Independent Music Association. She recalls accepting the award, and asking \u201cHave you ever thought about diversifying your personal life? Take a look around the table when you have friends over for dinner.\u201d<\/p>

Rowe acknowledges that while it is important to see different colours and cultures around the table within large organizations, people must be able to connect on a basic level in order to have empathy and understanding for one another. <\/span><\/div><\/div>
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\u201cEvery day in my life through [Honey Jam] \u2026 I walk the talk. This is who I am, it\u2019s not a marketing ploy, it\u2019s not for likes, it is who I am in a genuine way.”\u00a0 As Rowe puts it, \u201cSpread good deeds like a virus with no vaccine.”<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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Her upliftment of Black models and talents provided a glimpse into their person and a deeper understanding on a human level for readers, in hopes to bridge the gaps of representation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>

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Charmaine Gooden<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>

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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>

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