Black Fashion History

In this episode of the Black Fashion History, Taniqua Martin sits down with Ken Kweku Nimo, an author and expert in African fashion and material culture. From Ghana to South Africa, Ken shares his inspiring journey, discussing how his experiences have shaped his unique perspective on African fashion history. 

Dive into the impact of colonization, the resurgence of indigenous practices, and the global potential of African fashion. Don't miss this enlightening conversation! 

For more on Ken: 

https://africainfashion.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kwekunimo/ 

Watch now on www.blackfashionhistory.com, YouTube, or your favorite platform! 

In this special Black History Month episode, Taniqua speaks with Linda Ann Dixon about the legacy of her great grandmother Ann Lowe.

Dorothea Towles Church spent over five years in Europe during the 1950s, modeling for designers like Christian Dior, Elsa Schiaparelli, Robert Piguet, Jacques Fath, Pierre Balmain and more. As the first Black woman to model for major European fashion houses, Church used her gifts and access to help othe black women learn about the fashion industry and give back to her community. Taniqua dives into the career of Dorothea Church.

Black Fashion Spotlight:

Invisible Beauty Film

Episode Sources/Further Reading:

Blazing the Way One Runway Turn at a Time

Dorothea Church, 83; First Black Model to Work for French Designers

1950s Fashion Model | Dorothea Church

Church, Dorothea Towles (1922-2006)

Dorothea Towles: Christian Dior's Choice for the "New Look" 

Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell 

www.blackfashionhistory.com 

Donyale Luna is the first Black supermodel to appear on a Vogue magazine cover, yet not much is known about her as a barrier breaking model. Taniqua recaps the recent HBO documentary on the life of Donyale Luna.

Share you thoughts here.

Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell 

In 1966, Rosemary E. Reed-Miller followed her interest in fashion and opened Toast and Strawberries,a boutique overlooking Dupont Circle. When Toast and Strawberries opened, she was the only Black woman boutique owner in DC at the time. In this episode, Taniqua dives into her life and career in fashion.

Black Fashion Spotlight:

Project Runway Winner Bishme Cromartie’s Debut NYFW Show Exuded Edgy Romance

Watch the full show here.

Episode Sources:

Black Dress TV Rosemary Reed Miller

The artist as entrepreneur / Rosemary E. Reed Miller ; interviewed by Elaine Heffernan.

BUSINESS EXCHANGE: Late D.C. Entrepreneur Leaves Sterling Legacy

Audrey Weaver is a designer that creates hand-crafted artisan scarves and hats & accessories located in the New York City area.

Over the past years, she has received editorial credits for her designs in publications such as The New York Times, Essence Magazine, Glamour, and Women’s Wear Daily as well as being featured in The Oprah Winfrey Show, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story and more. In past years, the scarves have been sold in boutiques and departments stores across the country. 

Taniqua speaks with Audrey Weaver about her career as a scarf designer, technical designer and tailor to the stars.

Fashion shows have a deep rooted history in Black American culture. While we didn’t invent fashion shows, we have surely used them to celebrate our beauty, support our causes, make political statements and so much more. In this episode, Taniqua shares a brief overview of the history of these shows in Black communities and how it's impacted the culture. 

Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell 

1. African Americans and Consumerism 

2. Socialite Mollie Moon Used Fashion Shows to Fund the Civil Rights Movement

3. Irvin C. Miller's Brown Skin Models Big Hit in Cleveland

4. The Great Migration and Fashion Shows in Black Communities

5. The History Behind Harlem's Fashion Shows

6. Dorothea Church, 83; First Black Model to Work for French Designers

7. Fashion and Consciousness

8. The Fashion Show that Helped Launch a Movement

9. A Lesson in Black Fashion History

10. Black Power Dressing

Many people know Ann Lowe as the designer of gowns for America's most prominent society women, including Jacqueline Kennedy. Winterthur Museum is marking the legacy of Ann Lowe with the largest exhibition of her work to date, featuring 40 iconic gowns, many that have never been on public display.

The exhibition will also feature the work of contemporary Black couturiers like B Michael, Tracy Reese, Amsale Aberra, and Bishme Cromartie. Taniqua speaks with Elizabeth Way, associate curator at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology and guest curator of the exhibition, and Director of Collections Alexandra Deutsch.

The exhibition will run from September 9, 2023 to Januray 7, 2024.

Meet the Guests:

Winterthur Museum

Elizabeth Way

Alexandra Deutsch

Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell 

Gettin’ Free! : A Juneteenth Collaboration brought to you by Sistas Who Kill: A True Crime Podcast. We know that history is told from the side of the victors, but that leaves room for misinformation and false narratives. 

We are on a mission to change that.

11 Black podcasts have come together to reclaim our history and tell it our way - flavor and all. Welcome to a chronological journey to get free. Learn where we’ve come, what we’ve overcome, and how much further we need to go. 

Sistas Who Kill 

IG: @SistasWhoKillPod

22:16 Hoodrat to Headwrap 

IG: @ihartericka

42:25 Black Millennial MarriageIG:@blackmillennialmarriage

54:03 Journey to Launch IG: @JourneyToLaunch 

1:05:36 So what are you readingIG: @sowhatareyoureadingpodcast 

1:22:28 Chile, PleaseIG: @itshoneychile

1:34:36 The Professional Silly PodcastIG: @itsprosilly

 1:47:00 Jokes on You

IG: @JokesOnYouPod

2:04:07  Black Fashion History 

IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast

2:15:31 Zora’s Daughters

IG: @zorasdaughters

2:26:35 Black True Crime IG: @blacktruecrimepodcast

Not many people can claim being one of the great artists of the Harlen Renaissance, personal jeweler of Billie Holiday and the first Black woman to take over the jewelery and art industry in America. Taniqua digs into the life and career of Winifred Mason Chenet, the first Black commercial jewleler in the US and the mentor of many anazing artisans, including Art Smith. 

Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell