… searching for the marvellous.
1858-1931 Madame Pauline Seba was a milliner and dressmaker and like many African American dressmakers of her time a bit of an enigma but was exceedingly popular in historical records as an active member of Charleston, South Carolina's African American community. Not only was she a modiste, but she was also an activist in Charleston's … Continue reading Pauline Seba
...from slave to a first lady's personal modiste and confidante. Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was the first Black dressmaker to achieve national prominence. Keckley was born a slave, in Dinwiddie Court-House, Virginia sometime in February 1818. Separated from her family at eight years old, her early years were fraught with physical and sexual abuse. Sent as … Continue reading Behind the seams
Fashion Design as an art form wasn’t recognised until the nineteen century, prior to that clothing design was the domain of anonymous dressmakers. The father of Haute Couture, Charles Worth, an Englishman and a favourite of Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III’s wife, changed all that. In 1858 he set up his fashion salon, the House … Continue reading Black Pioneers in Fashion History
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong, does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost From ashes, a fire shall be woken, A light, from the shadows, shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken. The crownless again … Continue reading Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
…united by the fabric on our backs into the glamourous but horrific clothing and textile industry. Working for a Tier 1 Toyota supplier for over 10 years and being immersed in the Toyota Production System (TPS), waste elimination was something that was deeply engrained in me and I endeavored to translate that knowledge to the … Continue reading We are all Fashion Victims
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, usually a woman, and held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to please or … Continue reading Salon
Jacob Lawrence 1946 gouache on paper
The Errant Modiste 