Big Liberian Fashion Show
Comes To Minnesota Saturday
Dozens of Liberians in Minnesota are preparing to attend a big fashion show this Saturday, September 5th at the North View Junior High School Auditorium. The School is located at 5869 69th Avenue North in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55429.
Joyce W. Cooper
Designer and Owner
Joy-4-Designs
Telephone 763-566-4269
According to Mrs. Joyce W. Cooper, organizer of the event, the program will be the launching of Joy-4 –Designs business entity.
Joyce said the show will feature 20 models, including Cambodian, Americans and Liberians.
The show, which will begin at 7:00 PM, is expected to attract an array of Liberians and other nationalities. It will feature Embrace-U Jewelry and The Liberian National Dance Cultural Troupe in Minnesota.
Entrance fee is $15.00. Contact 763-566-4269.
Joy-4-Designs is a newly established Liberian owned apparel business based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Designer and Owner, Joyce W. Cooper was born in Monrovia, Liberia and raised there.
Her Passion for designing and sewing began at a very tender age in the early 1980’s in Monrovia. It started as a habit making little beautiful outfits for her dolls and altering her own clothes to add her personal touch and style. Recognizing Joyce’s talent and passion, a local seamstress in the neighborhood where she grew up offered to give her free sewing lessons. She also learned the art of garment construction from other foreign tailors in Monrovia.
In 1991, Joyce traveled to Nigeria where she was blessed to train as an apprentice with a Nigerian Fashion Designer. Later in 2001, she also traveled to Accra, Ghana where she gained additional experience in traditional Ghanaian and other technical garment construction and applications.
Then Joyce moved to the United States in 2001. Even though, she worked as a banker for U.S. Bank for five years, she continued to pursue her passion for designing and sewing by sewing at home after work or during her spare time for a few clients. That position came to an end in 2008, leaving Joyce to decide ultimately to follow her heart and passion to make her dreams come true on a full time basis.
As a Minister of the Gospel, Joyce believes in making beautiful garments to glorify God, nothing extreme and revealing. Gifted and inspired by the Spirit of God and the beauty of His creation, she also gets inspiration from African Prints, cultural fabrics,
laces, art and other designers. Joyce’s signature look is to incorporate those inspirational fabrics into contemporary styles with combinations of organza, linen, cotton, silk, chiffon, satin ribbons and other fashion fabrics to create sophisticated styles and silhouettes that are wearable and optimistic.
Currently, Joyce is enrolled in the Apparel Technology Program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College where she continues to strengthen her skills and her abilities to produce beautiful garments for production. With hard work and dedication as well as many years of experience, propelled by divine inspiration, style and art, Joyce is pleased to debut her clothing line of comfort and elegance in Joy-4-Designs.
Joyce, who has been in the business for 20 years, focuses on African and European clothing. She sews for ladies and kids.
Take Joy in what you wear!
