benson

benson is a celebrated fashion designer and photographer originally from the Metropolitan Detroit area. He garnered many awards in the field of Fashion Design in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Some of the accolades included Detroit’s Best New Designer awarded by The Metropolitan Detroit Magazine; while Orbit Magazine awarded benson Best Designer and Favorite Designer of the Year. He also received The Metro Times Best Designer Award.

benson developed name and brand recognition in the Mid Western United States as well as in New York and Canada for his Fashion shows and his incredible theatrical presence. After a stunning summer as the headliner at The State Theater in Detroit in 1994, benson decided that the time had arrived to relocate his business.

For 10 years the award winning Mange la Mode team was based in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

While operating his designer showroom in New Orleans’ Historic French Quarter, benson promptly became the Diva of the club and art scenes. He began producing and directing a series of extravagant Las Vegas style floor shows for the House of Blues. benson was asked by the New Orleans Art Council to help undertake the creation of costumes for a live performance piece for the Contemporary Arts Center. The C.A.C. premiered a six-block fashion theatrical to celebrate the paintings of Claude Monet in March of 1996. The New Orleans Times Picayune called the show “a masterpiece of movement, sound and imagery.” benson also created costumes for several of the most elite Mardi Gras parades and balls. In 1997 benson relocated to California. In San Francisco, Mange la Mode was featured in a living arts showcase at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts. Mondo 2000 called the show “A visual blowout, an orgy of sexy sights and sounds, and 3 ring circus all wrapped up in hyper-drive rock & roll fashions.”

Also of note was the amazing underwater project that he and photo wunderkind, Karima Cherif, spent two years developing and executing. benson eventually migrated his talents to Hollywood where he worked with such notables as Thomai Hara, (leading independent filmmaker), Belinda Ellis, (music video producer), and Mario and Tabitha De Leo, (producers of The Untouchables). benson most recently completed the design and manufacture of 3 gowns for a Swarovski Crystal commercial directed by Dustin Robertson of The AvidDiva.

The entire Mange la Mode team is planning to move from Austin TX to New York NY where they will be baking Hot Apple Pie!