Fashion Designer, Fashion Event Producer, and Black Americana collector, Leonard Davis is a native of Washington, D.C. and the second son of Jordan and Cleo Davis. He earned his “Couture Design Certificate" in 1975 from the L'Ecole de la Chamber Syndicale De La Couture Parisienne, Paris, France and earned his AAS degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. After working as an apprentice for Jean-Louis Sherrer in Paris, Davis returned to New York and began his Fashion designing career working for Willi Wear.

On more than one occasion throughout his career Davis was the first African American Designer to head a division for companies such as: Adrianna Papell, Tanzara International, Chaus Inc. and Donnkenny. For 12 years Davis worked developing private label product at QVC, The Home Shopping Network, Essence by Mail, and retail stores: Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, JC Penney, Sears, and Ashley Stewart and Walmart. Davis has also worked abroad as Design Director for several International fashion houses throughout Asia such as Mihang International (Korea) & Sage Apparel (India).

Davis realized the necessity for an annual event to honor African Americans in the Fashion Industry. In 1990 his vision was brought to fruition he organized several events with FAX that were hosted by The Fashion Institute of Technology which honored black fashion pioneers such as: Ophelia DeVore, Naomi Sims, Andre-Leon Talley, Iman, Geoffrey Holder, Carmen De Lavallade, Wesley Tann, Helen Williams, Audrey Smaltz, Susan Taylor, and Stephan Burrows, Hosted by Diahann Carroll and Phylicia Rashad.

Leonard began collecting African American historical artifacts in 1985. He authored 2 books entitled "Black Americana Price Guide" Davis has appeared in numerous magazine and newspaper articles, and The Davis Collection has been featured on several television shows: Antiques Road Show, Treasures In Your Home, The Incurable Collector and CBS Sunday Morning. Items from the Davis collection were featured in Spike Lee’s Hit movie “Bamboozled” several items from the Davis collection are on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. and the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis,Tennessee.