Happy Black History Month! This month (and every month), we’re celebrating Black history and honoring the Black community. To kick off the month, Madame Butterfly Too would like to highlight three visionary Black fashion designers.
The first designer we would like to bring to light is Tolu Oye, a West African design powerhouse and creator of Meji Meji. Oye’s creations seamlessly blend the iconic trends of African American culture and the opulent heritage of West Africa in her designs, while also celebrating the profound heritage that exists beneath her brand name.
Next, we’d also like to acknowledge Jerry Lorenzo, the visionary founder and creative genius of the luxury fashion brand Fear of God, which he established in 2013. Fear of God masterfully combines the elements of streetwear, minimalism, and classic American menswear. Coveted for its streamlined silhouette, muted color palettes, and refined essentials, the brand has emerged as a hallmark of contemporary style, with the Essentials sub-line providing less expensive everyday wear.
Finally, we focus on Ann Cole Lowe. Lowe, who was born in 1898 and died in 1981, was a pioneering African American fashion designer renowned for her stunning custom-made gowns designed for high-society clientele during a period when racial discrimination heavily limited opportunities for Black designers. Born in Clayton, Alabama, she grew up in a family of seamstresses and was trained in the trade from an early age. Her exceptional talent won her a scholarship to the S.T. Taylor Design School in New York City, where she had to endure segregation and was compelled to study with her white classmates. Despite these obstacles, Lowe’s talent and persistence pushed her into the realm of high fashion.
In the 1950s, Lowe opened her dress salon in New York City’s bustling heart and soon gained recognition for both her impeccable craftsmanship and sophisticated style. Some of America’s most prominent families, were the Rockefellers, the Roosevelts, and the du Ponts. However Cole’s most noted design, the delicate wedding gown that Jacqueline Bouvier wore at her historic wedding to John F. Kennedy in 1953—that forever secured her place.
Photographs from Meji Meji’s Instagram, Fear of Gods Instagram, Image of Ann Lowe: https://feliciadenise.com/2018/02/11/ann-cole-lowe-1898-1981/
