European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 27, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse For skins of All shades new cosmetics by Anne Marie Schiro new York times n july of last year. Juin Rachele came out Wilh a line of cosmetics Lor Lomeii with skin tones from Blond to Black to october of tast year. Patricia French brought out the Gazelle International line of ski care products Tor what she Calls women of in september of this year. Naomi Sims will introduce skin care products for Black women the ethnic Sfern care and cosmetics Field is said Bob Chavez merchandise administrator of cosmetics and fragrances at Macy a where the Gazelle Lino made is new York debut in May. He said the store had already done sizable business with fashion fair and flow Roberts two Long established lines geared to the Black woman while Large cosmetics companies trom Avon to Estee Lauder have added dark shades of makeup to their lines in recent years this is the first time there has been a major Effort to capture the upscale ethnic Market since Revlon developed the Short lived polished ambers collection in the 1970s there s a lot More room Tor More companies because the business is explosive Chavez said. Tush French is carving out a Niche for herself in the two la Lesl growing segments of he Market skin care and French is a 30-year old native of Georgia who moved to pans 111979 during a visit of the Ivory coast she became interested in the skin care problems of africans there Shn borrowed Money from a Friend to open a research Laboratory in Fiance to work on what she perceived As the problems of dark skinned women a tendency toward oiliness dark Spoti faded patches Andas Hiness. After 4tt years and an investment of Over �4 million Patricia French of Gazelle International. How vhf Sims Beauty and health Are my the Gizelle line was introduced Al Gal erics Lafayelle in Pant last september and at Rich s in Atlanta in october. The Paris launch was for prestige French said in a recent interview in new Vork. But we discovered a huge Market there of africans. Arabs and women from Guadeloupe and Martinique most Beauty products Tor Black women Are focused on the mass Market Fie continued cosmetics companies have left that Black people were mass Market shoppers and did t have Money to spend but Black people Are really very fashion style and Beauty conscious thai s Why i decided to do a european prestige Gazelle International will be sold in stores As far South As Florida and Texas As far West As California and As far afield As London and Geneva we re going where we can find the customer French said. The products currently include moisturizers an ext Cliant makeup remover Eye gel and body Tolion Iron about s15 to $42, ten shades of foundation will be added this tall juin Rachele is a Complete makeup Itne that includes 19 shades of foundation in mousse and liquid form blushes Eye shadows lipsticks and Nail polishes As Well As treatment products or oily dry and combination skin we be done certain things to respond to the needs of a wide Range of people up to the darkest skins Rachle explained in a Telephone interview from her Headquarters in Houston. We thou int it outdated and unnecessary that cosmetics to sold racially. Nothing else is our research showed that the cosmopolitan woman was not As interested m where things came irom As the Overall image and Quality of the Rachelo. Tio was born in Jamaica founded the company in 1984 with her husband Pat Cooper the line is sold in such stores As Saks filth Avenue Bullock s. Nordstrom. Woodward 4 lol hop and Mai shall Field prices arc $7.50 to $30 we were told it would take a couple of years to gel into the new York Market Rachele said but got there in eight months " Terry Hagerly vice president and merchandise manager for cosmetics Al Saks which brought the line to new York in Mach. Said the response of Saks customers was Good. Foundations for dark women have been a major vote she said. There have been lie Alment products but not necessarily color correctors a lot of makeup turns Chalky on dark skinned customers we could serve Wilh other Beauty products but not will foundation. In the Long run 1 think the big Market will be Tor color the lat of the current crop of women entrepreneurs to enter the Beauty fiend is Naomi Sims who will bring out a skin realm enl line in the fall to be followed by makeup and eventually har care products. Her career As a popular fashion Model in the 1960s and Early 70s, her five books on Beauty and health her wig collection and the perfume she introduced in 1981, have Given her a High recognition Factor among Black women. Beauty and health Are my life she said recently in her now York office i be spent 15 years studying and 10 years working on the included in her line priced trom $10, Are cleansing moisturizing and conditioning products. There s a tremendous need for skin care products today because of the stresses of the environment in addition to women s monthly changes Sims said Black skin is especially sensitive it needs gentle but effective her photograph is being used for print advertising one of the things people notice about me is the Quality of my skin she said. We decided i was the person to advertise my products. Anything that bears the Naomi Sims name grew out of my own needs. I m Here to Lay Down a legacy for my great great great granddaughters cafes Europe Sells a Complete line of Beauty products for Black women including shampoos hair sprays setting gets shaving items creams and lotions. Clarion products by Snoxell corp Are available for women who Are hypo allergenic Rachele responding to needs of Black women. Saturday Jure 27. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 17
