Chair, Fashion Business Management
With so much history being erased and a growing push to diversify the curriculum, I thought highlighting iconic Black designers would be a creative and meaningful way to spark conversation. While I’m not a designer by trade, I’ve always believed that representation matters.
Photo by Smiljana Peros.
Some of my favorites include:
- Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a former enslaved person who became a talented seamstress, civil rights activist, and the dressmaker for first lady Mary Todd Lincoln.
- Willi Smith, a trailblazer who brought “street couture” to the forefront of fashion.
- Aurora James, the visionary creative director and founder of Brother Vellies and the founder of the 15 Percent Pledge, pushing for lasting change in the retail industry.
- Sergio Hudson made a powerful statement when he dressed both former first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2021 Inauguration.