professorpski:Amanda Wicker: Black Fashion Design in Cleveland Amanda Wicker, born in 1894, became
professorpski: Amanda Wicker: Black Fashion Design in Cleveland Amanda Wicker, born in 1894, became a Cleveland resident in 1924. She worked as a dressmaker and teacher by starting the Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design out of her own home in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood. Since the late 19th century, dressmaking had allowed women to become independent entrepreneurs and although the garment industry drove many of them out of business over time, such skills were always valued. For the next 60 years, Wicker also taught generations of African Americans the skills she had mastered and offered them a chance to show off their creations during a fashion show. This new exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society has found fifteen garments to “showcase Wicker’s ingenuity and creativity.” By working during such a long period of fashion history, she made everything from evening gowns to funky jumpsuits. Compare that daring short mini dress with the fur at the hemline versus the more demure lace look in green. Such a range of styles. This exhibition also had pictures from the school’s archive and tells the story of Wicker’s work as an activist in the community. Recovering the story of individual dressmakers is a hard thing since so much of what they did went unrecorded or the records have been lost, so this show is a rare peek into a self-made woman’s career and work. For more information on visiting the show, go here: https://www.wrhs.org/explore/exhibits/amanda-wicker-black-fashion-design-in-cleveland/ -- source link