Baby Madison

Baby Madison is a fictional American character created by Mason Ewing in 2005. He represents a baby mainly used for Mason Ewing Corporation's image (logos, derivatives…) as well as its subsidiaries. He’s the lead character in *The Adventures of Madison*. His is a member of the Ewing Family.

## Introduction

Baby Madison is a 11-month-old infant, 30 inches tall, and described as mixed raced, with large blue eyes and a blond lock of hair. He appears with or without wings. He wears a diaper.

He is a “universal baby, a symbol of tolerance and humanity. He wants to represent all ethnic groups in one. His mixed raced complexion is neither black nor white, but a mixture of the two. His eyes are blue like Northern Europeans, but narrowed in the outer corners as some Asian ethnic groups. He is neither thin nor overweight. A baby was chosen because “a baby does not lie, does not judge, and loves everyone.”

## Usage

This baby wears a multitude of different outfits such as golfer, skater, football player, fireman, guitarist, cook, tennis player… Each outfit is highlighted in one of Madison’s stories as described in “The Adventures of Madison,” notably in comic books and TV series.

He also is the starring character in Mason Ewing Corporation’s logos, where he is represented in the subsidiaries’ activities. For example, for the SOS Madison International humanitarian association, the logo features Madison holding the earth in his hands.

Madison is the fictitious muse of *Madison Color*, a luxury sportwear clothing brand. This infant is involved in many activities. Mason Ewing created it to pay homage to his mother, Marie Elong. This brand is known for T-shirts with Braille lettering, which is affixed to the garment so visually impaired people can recognize the size, color and the baby’s activity when they touch it.

## Original idea

### Genesis

The story of Baby Madison unfolds in 2005, when Mason Ewing, the creative mind behind the Mason Ewing Corporation, breathed life into this charming fictional character. Joined by several friends, a brilliant idea sprouted: to create a business and launch a cool and trendy clothing brand. Meetings were held three times a week on this matter in the town of Meaux, in Seine-et-Marne, France.

At its core was Mason's unrestrained spirit, yearning to pay homage to his late mother, Marie Francesca Elong. She dreamt of having her own clothing business, but fate took a different turn when she passed away at the age of 20. Mason proudly declares in the media that fashion is the most beautiful legacy his mother left him. She was a model, a stylist, a fashion designer, a passionate soul who sewed outfits for underprivileged children on Pau Street in Douala, Cameroon.

In his former apartment in Meaux, all his friends knew he had only one dream: to create a business with his mother's name. After numerous discussions, Mason decides to name his enterprise "MARIE." However, after researching at the INPI, he discovers another existing brand named "MARIE." It prompts him to ponder an idea for creating a unique logo.

Envisioning a mascot with an adorable appearance narrating its life, he pictures the logo of a baby unlike any other: a mixed-race infant, with slanting blue eyes, a blonde lock, carrying messages of hope and defying racism and intolerance. It is at this moment that Baby Madison comes into existence! Mason, lacking funds at the time, partners with a friend to bring his logo to life. After sketches on Braille paper with a punch and months of work, the logo finally sees the light: a beautiful chubby baby, barefoot, in diapers, and with a pacifier.

A few days later, Mason christens his baby "Baby Madison," a name inspired by the dance "Madison" and the movie "Splash," where actress Daryl Hannah, playing a mermaid, was named Madison. He loved that movie. Moreover, it was like a nod to his future, as he had already planned that among the children he would have, one would bear this name. However, not everyone believes in him: his friends desert the ship one by one, leaving Mason alone with Baby Madison. Despite this, his determination remains unshaken, and his goal remains unchanged: to create a clothing brand to fulfill his mother Marie's dream.

At the time, Mason faces discrimination and mockery in France. According to his surroundings, a blind creator cannot make a mark in the fashion world. He reaches out to companies for support for Baby Madison, but doors close. Day after day, he endures insults and hostilities. But Ewing has a challenge: to show the world that a blind person can ignite the fashion industry.

In 2006, determined to break barriers, Mason organizes a fashion show in Paris to present the Baby Madison collection. He mobilizes friends to conduct wild street castings, recruit novice models, and create original photos. Even without a budget, the creator is resourceful: he buys plain T-shirts, removes the brand inside the collar, and screen prints his first T-shirts with the Baby Madison logo. An eccentric artist, Sarah, also breathes life into the first baggy pants of the Mason Ewing brand, featuring the ME logo.

### First fashion show

The Thursday of September 20, 2006, the date of the fashion show at Les Salons Vianey in Paris, remains etched in Mason's memory as a magical moment. The show took place at Les Salons Vianey in the twelfth arrondissement of Paris and was a resounding success. Numerous international reality TV personalities and actors from "Plus belle la vie" lent their support. On the web, one can even see Mason's godfather, the couturier Olivier Lapidus, accompanied by his wife Yara, the former Mrs. Clooney Céline Balitran, and Mason's godmother, the talented France 2 journalist Dominique Torres, among others. This day unquestionably stands as the most beautiful for Mason. The room was filled with journalists. He managed to gather important partners such as L'Oréal Professionnel, New Balance, Muriel Trueba (former colleague of Madame de Fontenay who provided valuable assistance), businessman Franck Kosakevitch (current vice president of Mason Ewing Corp), and many others. This is how he forged friendly ties with the TV and radio presenter Laurent Petitguillaume, who spontaneously agreed to accompany Mason in organizing his first fashion show, followed by many other projects.

### Madison Color

Following this initial event, Mason took some time to reflect for a few weeks and concluded that the clothing brand should not just bear his name but embody the spirit of his logo. This is how the ready-to-wear collection was named Madison Color, a vibrant tribute to Baby Madison. As a symbol of the struggle for the acceptance of disabled and blind individuals worldwide, Baby Madison inspired Mason with the innovative idea of creating the world's first clothing brand incorporating braille. This revolutionary concept posed a complex challenge, requiring 6 to 8 months of in-depth consideration on how to bring it to fruition. Mason Ewing was fully aware of the challenges posed by incorporating braille, but after these 8 months of effort, he finally found the solution to integrate braille into T-shirts, a world first. Although he knew that few people believed in this project, Mason had unwavering faith in his idea and in Baby Madison.

After numerous attempts with different printing houses, the integration of braille into the Madison Color collection was finally successful. It is essential to emphasize that at the time, in 2007, many printing houses refused to test this idea, arguing that it would be useless and would never work. Mason faced numerous pieces of advice to give up, especially in the fashion world. However, his determination to prove that it could work did not waver. He was convinced that his Baby Madison logo would bring him luck and that all the love invested in this collection in tribute to his mother would bear fruit.

At that time, Mason Ewing fondly recalls the boost from his entrepreneur friend Jean-François Hogrel. This generous-hearted patron provided Mason with hundreds of T-shirts, tank tops, and sweatshirts, enabling the launch of a first small Madison Color collection with Baby Madison in the spotlight. The saga of Baby Madison continued to grow by deploying new logos, just as quirky, portraying him as an American football star, basketball player, rocker, tennis player, and many other delirious variations.

### Departure for United States

In 2011, Mason embarked on the American dream with three friends. He first resided in Brooklyn, New York, before settling in Los Angeles. There were ups and downs until he met Mary Fry, his guardian angel working in entertainment, who came to his aid when he found himself homeless. He then returned to France, to Meaux. Despite persisting hardships, Mason did not give up on Baby Madison. And then comes Tony Coscia, a second guardian angel. Tony revved up the engine for the takeoff of this collection of T-shirts featuring Baby Madison and braille. Eloise Lapidus, his godfather's sister, played matchmaker by connecting him with the American textile wizard, Richie Williams. Together, this team produced new Madison Color models.

After that, Mason decided to propel his brand into the spotlight by having it worn by a cast of sports stars like Memphis Depay, Emmanuel Petit, Bruno Bellone, Paoline Ekambi, blind Paralympic athlete Timothé Adolphe (the white cheetah), Didier Roustan, the PSG women's team, the men's football teams of Monaco and OL, and many others.

### Development

Then comes March 2020, where the world is upheaved by COVID-19. Mason, far from being discouraged, decides to work intensively from home in the city of Meaux. He realizes that his dear Baby Madison is missing many things: a family, friends, and, above all, a story. So, for three years, he and his team work tirelessly to bring to life the entire universe of Baby Madison through comics, card games, video games, books, and many other projects.

Today, Baby Madison lives in Jonathanland, surrounded by a fantastic family: a 10-year-old big brother, Colin, a 5-year-old big sister, Kimberly, friends, a little sweetheart, Savannah, and even a best buddy, a baby husky named Scoot. With a specialist, the creative mind designed the coat of arms for the city of Baby Madison and gave birth to a whole bunch of quirky characters living in Jonathanland. Among them, the young Eli Tilmann, 17 years old, the cyborg Coia, Shelly Gold the former pin-up who advocates for the black cause, and many others who experience surprising adventures in the Californian municipality.

Moreover, Baby Madison, this baby with a refreshing look, advocates for the cause of disability and children in need. The American-Cameroonian stylist created the SOS Madison International foundation and the Baby Madison Label to protect children. With the MEC (Mason Ewing Corporation), his goal is to raise awareness worldwide for important causes such as children's and disabled people's rights, the fight against harassment, and many others. Furthermore, Baby Madison is committed to the environment and also fights for the protection of our planet.

For over two years, Mason and his team have also launched another crazy project: the very first magazine named after Baby Madison called "le Mag'ison." A manga magazine that is doing well in France and is preparing to conquer Japan with an office that will be placed there in the future. This magazine exists because its creator Mason Ewing, as well as most members of his close team, are manga enthusiasts.

Many projects around Baby Madison are kept secret and fuel rumors. Proud of his baby, Mason is happy that this hero he created attracts journalists from around the world who want to know what hides behind "Baby Madison," this baby that fascinates the planet.

## Galerie

Madison's roomEli Tilmann is the Baby Madison's baby sitter.