Black Dress: Ten Contemporary Fashion Designers
February 7 – April 26, 2014
Gallery hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 AM-6 PM; Thursday until 8 PM
Free and open to the public.
Black Dress celebrates ten black designers who each have a singular vision and the perseverance to succeed in the fashion world, which has historically downplayed their achievements. Organized by Pratt Institute Fashion Design Professor Adrienne Jones and art dealer and exhibition developer Paula Coleman and timed to coincide with Black History Month and New York Fashion Week, the exhibition explores how the background of each designer–coming from the United States and abroad–has affected his or her work. It also marks a new chapter in fashion history characterized by a greater spectrum of creative influences and professional opportunities.
Designers:
Jeffrey Banks
Samantha Black
Stephen Burrows
Donna Dove
Epperson
Michael Jerome Francis
Byron Lars
Tracy Reese
Omar Salam
LaQuan Smith
Black Dress will also seek to highlight the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that has been integral to the success of the featured designers: “Black Dress will highlight the correlation between entrepreneurship, creativity, and locality. These factors work together to create opportunities for designers and their communities,� said Jones.
A few pics from the opening reception:
A panel discussion will take place on March 5 from 6-8 PM in Room 213 (next to the gallery). Panelists include Michaela Angela Davis, a former executive fashion, beauty and culture editor at Essence, founding fashion director at Vibe, and advocate for women’s and human rights causes; Constance White, author of Style Noir and former Essence editor in chief, Elle fashion editor, and eBay style director; Harriette Cole, author and former editor of Ebony, Essence, and Uptown magazines; Elaine Welteroth, beauty and health director at Teen Vogue; and Pratt Institute professor Adrienne Jones. Fashion guru Walter Greene, fashion editorial director of Profiles98 and consultant on Black Dress, will moderate.
- via Pratt
I wasn’t able to make the opening reception but definitely want to see the exhibition! Anyone want to join me?
Happy Sunday!
xoxo – Kellie
