This episode explores the life and career of Anne Lowe, a pioneering African American fashion designer who dressed high society elites in the early to mid 20th century. We learn about her early life in Alabama, training in New York, moving to Harlem during the Renaissance, and most famously designing Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress.
Timeline:
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Early Life & Training
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Born in Clayton, AL in 1898
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Learned sewing from her mother and grandmother
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Moved to NYC in 1917 to formally train at S.T. Taylor Design School
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Segregated at school but still excelled and finished early
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Building Her Brand
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Opened successful dress salon in Tampa, FL from 1919-1928
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Saved $20,000 to move to Harlem, NYC during the Renaissance
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Quickly built clientele among NYC elites and socialites
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Designed Olivia de Havilland’s Oscars dress in 1947
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Peak Years
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Client list included Rockefellers, Roosevelts, duPonts and more
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Hired to design 1953 wedding dress for Jacqueline Kennedy
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Water pipe disaster destroyed original dress 10 days before wedding
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Remade it in 5 days with help of employees and community
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Late Career Struggles
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Focused more on artistry than business side, fell into debt
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Wealthy clients anonymously paid off $13k in back taxes she owed
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Died in 1981 at age 82 after inspiring new generation of designers
Key Quote: “I love my clothes and I’m not interested in sewing for café society or social climbers. I sew for the families of the Social Register.” – Anne Lowe
Impact: Lowe’s elegant designs broke racial barriers in high fashion. She paved the way for future Black designers through her perseverance and excellence.
Subscribe, review & learn more at www.blackisamericapodcast.com
The Black Is America podcast, a presentation of OWLS Education Company, was created and is written, researched, and produced by Dominic Lawson.
Executive Producer Kenda Lawson
Cover art was created by Alexandria Eddings of Art Life Connections.
Sources to create this episode include Ebony Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, The JFK Library, The Academy, C-Span, History.com, and Blackpast.com
Special thanks to fashion designer Ayeshia Smith of Ayeshia.com. Follow her on IG at Ayeshia.appareal
Also pecial thanks to Elizabeth Way, Associate Museum curator at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Special thanks to first Chutney Young for suggesting Ann Lowe as a topic.
And lastly thank you Lisa Woolfork, founder of Black Women Stich and host of the Stitch Please Podcast. We collaborated with her on this espisode and she introduced us to Elizabeth Way. Follow on IG At Black Women Stitch.