By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Gospel diva CeCe Winans is getting into the fashion business.
The multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award winner has recently teamed up with noted Hollywood fashion stylist Roni Burks and the New York based firm Dream Design to launch a new clothing line, entitled Ashley Rose.
Winans told The BV Newswire that her 20-year-old daughter was the inspiration for the line. "I decided to do this line with my daughter, Ashley [Love], because she has a great eye for fashion and she's a born leader," she revealed. "I believe there are a lot of young women who wants to be stylish without being so revealing. This line is for them."
Family business have always worked well for Winans (legally known as Priscilla Winans-Love), who is a part of gospel music royalty -- one of the many stars to come out of Detroit's Winans dynasty. The 42-year old songstress enjoyed mainstream success when her and brother, BeBe Winans, formed the duo BeBe & CeCe and released their critically acclaimed, chart-topping 1988 album, 'Heaven.'
Since then, she has become a bona fide superstar in her own right; teaming with her galpal Whitney Houston on the 'Waiting to Exhale' soundtrack; penning the inspirational memoir 'On A Positive Note' in 2000; and even endorsing Crest toothpaste products.
The seven-time Grammy Award winner also helms her own record company, Wellspring Gospel, and hosts an annual women's conference in her hometown of Nashville every summer.
"I'm doing a clothing line to fulfill a need that would allow women, young and more mature, to be stylish and breathe at the same time," she quipped about the forthcoming active wear line. "I don't feel clothes have to be tight to be fashionable."
The line will cater to women aged 20-45. Distribution details for Ashley Rose are being solidified at press time.
"I love the creative part of pulling a line together, but it's a very time consuming endeavor," she added. "I've been working on it for several years, now. It's hard work, but very rewarding."
With her fashion forward plans underway, Winans is currently on tour -- some overseas dates with gospel music sensation Donnie McClurkin -- promoting her latest release 'Purified,' which netted two Grammy Awards last month. In between her dates, she's recording a new album that should be in stores this fall, and has designs on rekindling the musical magic with her brother for a new BeBe & CeCe album to be released thereafter.
Always a media darling, Winans will be featured on ABC's hit series 'Extreme Home Makeover' on April 8, her publicist confirmed.


Comments: (32)
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By: Vivian Dyer on 4/08/2007 12:50AM
As a mother of a developed teenager, I appreciate a clothing line that will cover my daughter. It is so hard to find clothes that she likes that do not make her look like a hoochie. To have fashionable clothing for her will be a blessing. I just hope it is affordable for the single working mother.
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By: Elaine Rumph on 4/08/2007 10:42PM
I'm so glad that CeCe is coming out with a new line of clothes, I get so tired of shopping and can't find nice and classy clothing to ware. I always run into if I like it,then it's something that mess up the whole outfit, showing to much of this or to much of that. Everyone is not in to showing parts their bodies. I know that this clothing line will be truly blessed. May God continue to bless you and your family CECE.
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