An upcoming exhibition at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology will honor black fashion designers. Black Fashion Designers, which will be on view at FIT’s Fashion & Textile History Gallery from December 6, 2016 to May 16, 2017 will feature a range of influential black figures in fashion history, from pioneers, to veterans, to strong up-and-comers.
The show will include 75 works from more than 60 designers and will be broken down into 8 key themes. Each theme will explore a specific aspect of black fashion history. Influential fashion models, stylist, editors, and personalities will also be honored at Black Fashion Designers. Iconic African American designer Patrick Kelly, Nigerian-born designer Duro Olowu, Hip-hop pioneer Dapper Dan, Grace Wales Bonner, and Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss are a few of the talents featured in the Black Fashion Designers.
FIT also produced 2 short original films for the exhibition, featuring conversations about diversity in fashion and modeling. In one film, a discussion is led by Pulitzer Prize winning critic and journalist Robin Givhan with activist and model Bethann Hardison as well as models Veronica Webb and Riley Montana. Consultant and former Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley joins designers Tracy Reese and Mimi Plange in a second short film.
A look from Patrick Kelly Fall/Winter 1986
A look from Duro Olowu Fall/Winter 2012.
For more info visit The Museum at FIT.
