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A Rainbow of Colors

By guest contributor Joe David

The French Embassy in Washington, D.C., came alive Saturday night with a collection of stunning clothes created for men and women by French designer Jean-François Garcia. His Raza de Bronce clothing collection was shown exclusively to an enthusiastic crowd of Washingtonians during a sold-out Compassion through Fashion Runway Show. Bolivian designer Kathyuska Carrasco complemented Garcia’s fashionable line with her collection of one-of-a-kind handbags.

This rising Latin star who has designed for brands such as Marie Claire and Yanbal has been exporting her products to Venezuela, Peru and Colombia. “I am participating in Compassion through Fashion because of my love for the children of Bolivia and my commitment to work that Arco Iris is doing there for them.”

he evening events were brought together by two important philanthropic groups – the Azar Foundation and Arco Iris America, both focused on improving the health, education and general welfare of children. Shahin Mafi, founder of Azar Foundation for Children of the World, is a Washington-area humanitarian, peace activist, and philanthropist who attributes her dedication to the children of world to her mother. “It was she who inspired me to dedicate myself to their plight. I inherited her contagious love for children, which led me to create a family foundation named after her. My goal has been, and will always be, to reach out to assist the less-fortunate children around the world. Partnering with Arco Iris for this event has given me another opportunity to do this.”