Black Fashion History

Lois Alexander Lane dedicated her life’s work to highlight the role of African Americans in fashion since the beginning of the 19th Century. She created the Black Fashion Museum which housed the largest and rarest Black fashion collection of all time. Listen to her story. 

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In this episode, Taniqu discusses how Black women have been the muses for luxury designers and how Black women have increased the popularity and desirability of luxury fashion throughout history.

In this episode, Taniqua discusses how business formal attire and denim were used in the 1960s to highlight racism injustice, sexism and classism during the Civil Rights Movement.

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Jaleesa Johnson

Costumer Ceci discusses her experience working on iconic shows like A Different World and Living Single and what true diversity looks like. 

About Ceci:

Ceci is a costume designer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She's worked on many sitcoms, television shows and movies including A Different World, Living Single, Sister Siter, The Inkwell and more. Most recently, she is the costumer designer for Mixedish and Dear White People. Check out the links below to learn more about Ceci.

Lenese Calleea

Taniqua chats with Jacqueline Shaw about the importance of building sustainable fashion businesses that manufacture in an African country. Jacqueline Shaw is a fashion designer, educator and business coach who helps creative entrepreneurs, designers, brands and retailers to reimagine their supply chain to produce socially and environmentally sustainable products on the African continent.

Where to find Jacqueline:

* Apologies for the audio in this episode. 

Taniqua continues her conversation with Rachel Fenderson about the life and career of Jay Jaxon. The ladies discuss Jaxon's move to the States, his name change and the importance of documenting your history and telling your own stories. 

About Rachel Fenderson:

Taniqua chats with Rachel Fenderson, fashion designer, curator, historian and lead authority on Jay Jaxon, about the life and career of designer Jay Jaxon and her exhibit at the Queens Historical Society. As the first American to lead a French Couture house (Jean Louis Scherrer), Jay Jaxon paved the way for French and American designers today.

About Rachel Fenderson:

Taniqua continues the conversation with Cinque Brathwaite, the co-founder and president of the Elombe Brath Foundation. Cinque talks about how the African Jazz Art Society and Studio birthed the Black is Beautiful Movement and the Grandassa models, a group that changed the standards of beauty for an entire community and became the inspiration behind the first drop of Rihanna's Fenty collection.

In the season premiere, Taniqua chats with Cinque Brathwaite, the co-founder and president of the Elombe Brath Foundation. Cinque talks about how the African Jazz Art Society and Studio birthed the Black is Beautiful Movement and the Grandassa models, a group that changed the standards of beauty for an entire community and became the inspiration behind the first drop of Rihanna's Fenty collection.

In the final episode of the season, Taniqua chats with Gabby Layne, creator and Editor in Chief of the Strut Magazine, an independent magazine dedicated to creating a community for black fashionistas and covering black fashion culture. The two ladies discuss 2019s biggest moments in black fashion from Rihanna being the first black woman to have a luxury label as part of the LVMH fashion house to Kerby Jean-Raymond dropping out of the Business of Fashion 500 list.

The Strut Magazine 

In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses the career of African-American designer and fashion blogger/commentator Eric Gaskins.

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In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses the career of African-American fashion illustrator, designer and photojournalist Alvin Bell who also was the man behind the proposed Michael Jackson collection in the 80s.

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Ruby Bailey was a Harlem fashionista and designer that did NOT get the recognition she deserved. In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses Ruby Bailey as a pioneer of Afrocentrism in fashion and worked to promote the recognition of black designers.

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In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses the most successful black designer in America, Willi Smith.

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In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses how Mildred Blount, the ladies' hat maker behind the pieces in "Gone with the Wind," rose to stardom.

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In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses how Scott Barrie became known as the man who made the jersey matte dress. 

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In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, Taniqua discusses how Arthur George "Art" Smith overcame racism to make his mark in fashion and art.

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In this episode of #BlackFashionHistory, we breakdown how Zelda Wynn Valdes rose to fame, her signature style and the legacy she left behind.

*Episode correction: Valdes' boutique in 1948 was named Chez Zelda.

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