Ep. 33 | Luxury Fashion in Early Black African Civilizations

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. Rosemary Reed Miller, Washington boutique owner, dies at 78 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  Episode Sources/Further Reading:   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 

With 2023 being the 50th anniversary year for hip hop, it was only right to begin the year with an appreciation for hip hop fashion. Taniqua highlights three streetwear brands that shaped hip hop culture in the late 80s and 90s. Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell  Epsiode Sources/Further Reading: www.blackfashionhistory.com/episodes/53-3-streetwear-brands-that-shaped-hip-hop