A small crowd of individuals gathered in the Opal Johnson-Smith Auditorium, Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m for “The History of African -Americans in Fashion,” a kick-off program for Texas Fashion Week at Prairie View A&M University, sponsored by the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).
Guest speakers for the program included Frederick Roberts, assistant director of career services, and Dr. Grace Goodie, assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences.
Fashion is a statement of expression that is constantly changing from slightly subtle to extremely seductive. Fashion has the power to transform an image and make a social statement.
Roberts informed the audience that African-Americans’ involvement in the Fashion industry is rooted in African culture.”The blend is chiefly sub-Saharan African and Sahelean cultures where color and textures play a great role in designs,” stated Roberts. “When we look at the early African-American designs, we see the blend of the Africans from slavery.”
Roberts showed the early designs from the Harlem Renaissance to the present and how color and style were similar.
Roberts also recognized some early fashion legends that include Stephen Burrows, the first African-American designer to achieve acclaim on an international level; Audrey Smaltz-, the first African- American to win the Miss Transit Pageant and President/CEO Ground Crew Worldwide, NY; Bethan Hardison, the first African American salesperson in a fashion showroom and model-designer for famed designer Willi Smith.
“These persons encountered hardships in the industry and paved the way for the new-found celebrity designers who achieve fame based primarily on their names, even though some have become designers in their own right,” said Roberts. “Such designers include Kamora Lee Simmons, Tina Knowles, Sean Combs and 50 Cent, to name a few.”
Goodie took another approach to African-Americans in the industry by discussing the use of bold colors and explaining how these colors affect the clothing, the mood and the environment of individuals. “The texture of the fiber used in clothing affects our health,” stated Goodie. “The use of linen and cotton in other cultures has proven that people are healthier.”
Goodie shared some of her experiences of world travel.
She discussed how people use natural coloring to dye their woven fabrics and how those individuals watch what they eat.
“The indigenous people of central America also used meditation as part of their connection with nature,” said Goodie.
She went on to challenge and encourage the students to have balance in their lives – associating the spiritual with their normal activities and invited the students to visit with her.
“The event was an overall success,” said Kyle Maronie, program director. “The purpose of the event was to enlighten students on African- American fashion, a point that is not always discussed in our history.”
Roberts said, “The overall program was a success and is expected to be a part of future fashion programs. Celestial Hall, junior Fashion Merchandising and Marketing student is the producer of Texas Fashion Week.”
So do you know the true significance behind the colors and fabric that you wear?