… 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
The Errant Modiste 