Music legends are nothing new to the Shoals.
Well-known artists such as Etta James, Percy Sledge and The Rolling Stones have recorded hit songs in the Shoals.
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, aka The Swampers, were mentioned in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Another industry rooted in the Shoals has been gathering national attention as of late.
Shoals-based fashion designers Natalie Chanin and Billy Reid have been honored for their clothing by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and featured in numerous national magazines and publications.
“It’s not unusual for the council to honor multiple designers who work in California and New York, but we have two who have been honored by the fashion council here in the Shoals,” said David Sims, of A Tomlinson Sims Advertising in Florence.
So, it was only a matter of time that the two industries would cross paths.
It is with that thought in mind that Sims and Allen Tomlinson decided to bring the two together for a night of Muscle Shoals music and design.
Set to Muscle Shoals Music performed by Muscle Shoals artists, Chanin and Reid will provide the fashion for Red Rhythm Runway.
Along with the established members of the fashion and music industries of the Shoals, a few newcomers will be put in the spotlight at Saturday’s event.
Marianna Barksdale, a Florence High School graduate, will showcase designs she describes as “dramatic.”
“I’m not sure how else to describe it,” the 25-year-old designer said in an e-mail.
Barksdale, who said her typical “uniform” is a basic T-shirt and pants, has been infatuated with fashion and design since childhood.
“Since I could hold a pencil, I’ve been ‘improving catalogs,’ ” she said, explaining she would fill in her mother’s fashion catalogs with clothes she decided were “missing.”
“I taught myself how to hand-sew early on and forced my mother to teach me how her Bernina sewing machine worked inside and out,” Barksdale said. “I began sewing my doll’s clothes and progressed to making clothes for myself soon after.”
Marianna is the only daughter of Pamela Jones Barksdale and Dr. James Alan Barksdale. She has two brothers, James David Barksdale and Jonathan Alan Barksdale.
After her education in Florence, Barksdale atttended the Savannah College of Art and Design and did a dual-study course at Central Saint Martins in London.
She said she has been influenced by designers Alexander McQueen, Yohji Yamamoto and Jun Takahashi. But she also has had plenty of Shoals influence in her design style.
“I interned with Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin,” Barksdale said. “I became one of her hand-sewing artisans, eight hours a day for two months, hand stitching garments piece by piece.
“She had a huge influence on how I view fashion and the fashion world. She impressed upon me how important it is to stay true to yourself and to follow your instincts.”
When it came time to put together her own line, Billy Reid offered words of wisdom to the budding designer.
“Billy Reid has graciously given me advice that has helped me with some of the ambiguous questions when it comes to starting your own line,” she said. “It’s an intimidating process, and he has been really helpful, probably more so than he knows.
“He also allowed me to borrow his line for a project I produced last year. It was called the ‘Reanimated Toy Fight Club.’ ”
While her name may be a little more well-known in the Shoals since her appearance on NBC’s “The Voice” earlier this year, Shawna P is somewhat of a newcomer to the music scene, especially when it comes to the other musicians also headlining the Runway event — Jimmy Hall, David Hood, Will McFarlane, Kelvin Holly, Gary Nichols, Mike Dillon, N.C. Thurman, Brad Guin, Ken Watters and Chad Fisher.
In a phone interview from her home in Orange Beach, the former north Alabama resident said she was honored to be asked to be part of the event, which will raise money for the AIDS Action Coalition and the Hames Clinic.
“I grew up listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd sing about The Swampers,” said Shawna P., who graduated from high school in Decatur. “Jimmy Hall is probably my favorite male soul singer — male singer period.”
Performing on stage with Hall and the other Muscle Shoals musicians has been a longtime desire for Shawna P.
“It’s on my bucket list,” she said.
Shawna P has referred to her blended style of music “Earthfunk” — a mix of funk, rock and country.
She said we all are given a unique gift and while, she has always felt like “one of the fellas,” she hopes she inspire other women to realize their own dreams and utilize their gifts.
“Part of what I do is encourage women to realize they are queens,” the 46-year-old artist said.
In fact, she is working on a book she hopes will help women realize they are queens.
“It’s ‘I Queen,’ ” she said. “If you treat yourself like a queen and believe that you are a queen, others will respect you in that.”
While music will be her main focus Saturday, Shawna P said she’ll be sporting something different from her recognizable full-length dashikis she wears around town.
“I’m going a little edgy,” said the singer. “It’s going to be a bling, bling rock thing. I’m taking a risk for me fashion wise.
“After the show, I’ll be back in caftans and queen gear,” she said laughing. “Really casual stuff.”
And combining fashion with her music is not too far off the grid for Shawna P.
“I want to put together a clothing line,” she said. “Something that reflects my style.”
Doors for the fashionable music event open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in Florence.
Open arrival, attendees will be able to look at another type of fashion — Porches from Porsche of Huntsville will be parked around the drive at the conference center.
Cocktails will bee in the atrium, where models will show gowns designed by students in the University of North Alabama’s fashion design program.
“They have made gowns they created from alternative materials, such as garbage bags and audio CDs,” Sims said.
The models also will be wearing unique jewelry pieces from Grogan Jewelers.
Pop-up shops will also be a part of the cocktail hour.
“We’re trying something different from the usual silent auctions,” said Allen Tomlinson, of A Tomlinson and Sims Advertising Agency. “We’ll feature local boutiques, something you won’t see at the mall. For instance, Pegasus Records will sell old vinyls featuring only local music.”
Doors to the ballroom open at 7:30 p.m. for the show. It will be followed by an after-party sponsored by Truly Cigars, of Florence.
Tickets to the event are $65 for reserved seats and $50 for general admission, and available at rrrunway.com or 256-536-4700, ext. 125.
Teri Thornton can be reached at 256-740-5742 or teri.thornton@TimesDaily.com.
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