Find Your FIT

Join globally renowned celebrity makeup artist, creative director, and cultural tastemaker Sir John for a live conversation on fashion, identity, and creative entrepreneurship — presented alongside the exhibition FIT: Buffalo Fashion, Identity, and Transformation, now on view at the Burchfield Penney.

Sir John will share a brand-new film conversation with pioneering fashion model and fellow Buffalonian, Beverly Johnson, then sit down with a panel of Buffalo creatives for a candid discussion on flourishing in the creative economy while staying connected to self.

Sir John is joined by:

Nicole Davis, Founder, Franci by Nicole Davis Jewelry
Billie Essco, artist, designer, musician, and Co-Founder of CAFE+CZEN Clothing Brand
Erin Habes, Lecturer, Buffalo State Fashion & Textile Technology Department and Creative Strategist

Together they'll dig into where Buffalo's creative scene comes from, how fashion and beauty move communities and industries, and what the city's creative future could look like — followed by audience Q&A.

Burchfield Penney Art Center Tower Auditorium.

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ABOUT NICOLE DAVIS

Francí Jewelry was organically birthed 15 years ago by Nicole Davis - CEO, Designer and Buffalo, New York born native. Being exposed very early on to fashion and, more specifically, jewelry, Nicole naturally had an affinity to design and create unique and beautifully captivating jewelry by hand from cascading shoulder pieces and ethereal wedding veils to simple and chic wire wrapped bracelets for everyday wear using materials like jeweled stones and pearls. Nicole envisioned her pieces to be wearable art that would immediately make every woman on whom it adorned feel like royalty. 

As an artist, Nicole strives to revolutionize the way jewelry is perceived because in her eyes, the pieces are more than just accessories, but are the entire look. Since 2008, her extensive collections have been featured at Fashion Weeks in New York, Los Angeles and just ecstatically presented her most recent collection in Paris. Nicole’s designs have been worn by celebrity clientele and also published in several national and international magazines, which includes the likes of renowned publications Vogue Italia, L’Officiale and Harper’s Bazaar, and Essence.

ABOUT SIR JOHN

Sir John is a globally renowned celebrity makeup artist, creative director, and cultural tastemaker with over two decades of experience shaping the worlds of fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Known for creating iconic looks for legends like Beyoncé, Zendaya, Naomi

Campbell, and Serena Williams, his work spans red carpets, runway shows, and major international campaigns, with features in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle. He currently serves as Creative Director of Medicube, the Korean skincare brand, where he blends artistry with cutting-edge innovation.

Beyond artistry, Sir John is a visionary business leader who has partnered with global brands including Disney, Estée Lauder, Barbie, Genesis, and MasterClass, helping to modernize and elevate both mass and luxury beauty. Having also served as Creative Director at L’Oréal Paris US for over a decade, he continues to push the boundaries of beauty through both creative and strategic leadership.

Driven by the belief that “beauty is a feeling,” Sir John is committed to inspiring individuality, confidence, and a more holistic approach to beauty—empowering a new generation to redefine what beauty looks and feels like.

ABOUT CHASE COBBINA

Chase Cobbina aka Billie Essco is a Ghanaian-American multidisciplinary artist, designer, musician, and creative director from Buffalo, New York. A graduate of Buffalo State University, Chase’s practice moves fluidly between visual art, fashion, music, and cultural storytelling, often exploring identity, community, memory, and the evolving relationship between art and commerce.

As Billie Essco, Chase has developed a distinct creative language that merges music and visual culture with an emphasis on self-expression and place. His work has intersected with artists, designers, musicians, and cultural institutions through collaborations and projects connected to Buffalo’s creative community and beyond, including work with Griselda Records and Virgil Abloh.

Chase is also the co-founder and creative force behind CAFE+CZEN, a multidisciplinary creative platform that uses fashion, design, art, music, and community engagement as vehicles for storytelling. Through CAFE+CZEN, he has developed projects that connect contemporary art and design with youth programming, collaborative exhibitions, product development, and community-based initiatives.

Across mediums, Chase’s practice is rooted in experimentation and the belief that creative expression can exist beyond traditional categories. His work reflects an ongoing exploration of how personal history, cultural influence, fashion, music, and community shape the way individuals see themselves and their surroundings.

ABOUT ERIN HABES

Erin Habes is a Full-Time Lecturer in Fashion & Textile Technology at Buffalo State University, where she serves as Internship Coordinator and Faculty Director and Producer of RUNWAY, the university’s signature student fashion show. With more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry and fashion education, Habes has built her career at the intersection of fashion, creativity, education, and community.

A passionate connector and champion for emerging creative talent, she creates opportunities that bring students and alumni together with designers, brands, businesses, cultural organizations, and industry professionals. Her work centers on experiential learning, mentorship, creative collaboration, and strengthening Buffalo’s growing fashion ecosystem.

Habes is a recipient of Buffalo State’s Dr. Muriel A. Howard Presidential Award and the Beau Fleuve Community Impact Award.