FACES: Atlanta’s Bold Statement That Fashion, Arts, Culture, and Education Belong Here

Crystal Jordan
Sep 24
3 min read

By Crystal Jordan

Auesomely You Magazine

Published: 9/20/2025

Pillar Focus: Advocacy

At Auesomely You Magazine, our Advocacy Pillar uplifts the leaders and initiatives that make sure communities are seen, heard, and celebrated. Advocacy is not always loud protest—it’s also curating space, resourcing creativity, and sending a clear message: Atlanta belongs on the global stage.

Image Credit: @bobmackeyphotography — **Image Credit:** **@bobmackeyphotography**

**Image Credit: Crystal Jordan / Auesomely You Magazine**

That’s what unfolded at FACES—Fashion, Arts, Culture, and Education, a Fulton County-led initiative that has quickly become a cultural cornerstone. The showcase reminded us that fashion is not confined to New York, Paris, or Milan. Fulton County is advocating for Atlanta’s creative economy, proving that our designers are just as skilled, visionary, and global-ready as any in the world.

Leadership That Makes Creativity Possible

The evening was not only about the runway—it was about acknowledging the people who work tirelessly to make these moments possible.

Michelle Lynn was celebrated as a “true blessing to the county,” a reminder that strong community leadership ensures artists have the support they need to thrive.

And again and again, the name David Manuel surfaced—not simply as Fulton County’s Director of Arts and Culture, but as a rare kind of leader. Attendees spoke about his openness, his willingness to nurture ideas, and his commitment to resourcing them:

“Whenever we have an idea, David will say, ‘Well, come on, let’s see if this is possible.’ And then he actually takes the time to go through it to see that we do it. And if we don’t know how, he finds the resources to make it happen. This is not a simple supervisor. In my 30 years in it, I’m telling you, this is rare.”

That kind of leadership is advocacy in action. It shows what happens when a county doesn’t just talk about supporting the arts—it invests in them.

Atlanta Fashion Is Global Fashion

This year’s showcase once again brought together student designers, emerging creatives, and established names. What stood out wasn’t only the craftsmanship but also the message: Atlanta has fashion talent that rivals any city in the world.

Designers showcased sustainable collections, bold couture, and culturally rooted garments that told stories of heritage and innovation. From Clark Atlanta University students preparing for Paris Fashion Week to independent designers reimagining Southern culture through high fashion, the runway affirmed that Atlanta is not a secondary market—it’s a global player.

And Fulton County is determined to amplify that truth. FACES is the county’s way of declaring that arts and fashion are not extras—they are essential.

Looking Ahead: FACES 2026

Excitement is already building for next year’s five-year anniversary of FACES, which promises to elevate the vision even further. With content creators, designers, and cultural leaders working together, the showcase is shaping up to be more than an annual event. It’s becoming a movement.

“We are all creatives. And whenever we have an idea, it deserves the chance to breathe.”

That statement, shared from the stage, echoed throughout the room. It captured what makes FACES different: it is not just a fashion show, but a platform where ideas, people, and cultures intersect to create something bigger than themselves.

Advocacy Woven Into Every Stitch

At Auesomely You Magazine, we see FACES as more than a showcase—it’s advocacy stitched into fabric, modeled on the runway, and spoken into existence. It’s Fulton County telling Atlanta’s creatives: we see you, we support you, and we’re taking you global.

In a world where Black fashion and Southern creativity are too often overlooked, FACES proves that Atlanta doesn’t just follow trends—we set them.

✨ Read the full story now at AuesomelyYouMagazine.com and discover how **FACES—Fashion, Arts, Culture, and Education—is shaping Atlanta’s future as a global fashion hub.

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