Mood Fabrics is making a conscious effort to create an inclusive environment and diverse experience as a company and for our customers. We are celebrating Black History Month by highlighting Black makers, artists, and designers! We reached out to designers who inspire us to feature their work so that it reaches a larger audience, and in turn, we want to encourage Black talent in the textile and fashion industry as a whole.
What does this mean?
We’ll be highlighting content throughout the month in three main phases. First, we’ll be releasing profiles on figures throughout history who’ve left their mark on fashion, sewing, and art. Second, we’d like to feature designers who have grown recently and are inspiring us already!
Last, and certainly not least, we’ll be spotlighting up-and-coming designers in a series of interviews from sustainable and contemporary fashion designers to theater and screen costume designers!
Historical Profiles:
- André Leon Talley: A fashion journalism pioneer, Andre Leon Talley was renowned for nurturing up-and-coming talent during his tenure as editor-at-large at Vogue.
- Elizabeth Keckley: Long forgotten in American history, Elizabeth Keckley bought her own freedom and rose to prominence, becoming Mary Todd Lincoln’s trusted confidante and dressmaker.
- Ann Lowe: Ann Lowe defied racist attitudes and stereotypes to become a highly sought-after couturier, dressing an elite clientele that included the likes of Jackie Kennedy.
Designers to Watch:
- Edvin Thompson, Theophilio: Edvin Thompson’s Theophilio combines personal stories of his upbringing in Jamaica with a love for street style, upcycled material, and gender-neutral silhouettes.
- Telfar Clemens, TELFAR: If you’ve kept up with street style, you’ve probably seen your favorite celeb rock Telfar Clemens’ famous Telfar bag, which has quickly become one of the most sought-after luxury bags of the 2020s.
- Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka, House of Aama: Led by mother and daughter duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka, House of Aama fuses avant-garde couture sensibilities with the history of the African diasporic community.
Interview Spotlights:
- Shane Ballard – A multi-talented artist, Shane Ballard is both an award-winning costume designer for dance stage, and screen, as well as a costume concept illustrator for films such as Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” “Respect,” and “Harriet.”
- Washington Roberts – Expertly tailored garments are Washington Robert’s forte, creating sleek contemporary clothing that blends the fashion sensibilities of Nigeria and New York City.
- BruceGlen – Dubbed “The Fashion Preachers,” identical twins Bruce and Glenn Proctor combine sustainable production practices with a joyous, ultra-modern aesthetic.
Be sure to check back here as we release new content and update the above list with links, or check out all of our Black History Month content as it gets published here!
Want to stay up to date with all of our releases? Be sure to follow us on Instagram and join our Facebook group!
Are there any makers or designers of color that you’d like to see featured? Leave us a comment below!
I feel like Black History should be celebrated everyday 🙂