Black Fashion Designers and Models in Conversation

Submitted by: Ariele Elia, Assistant Curator of Costume and Textiles, The Museum at FIT: Elizabeth Way, Curatorial Assistant ,The Museum at FIT

Elizabeth Way and Ariele Elia, curators at The Museum at FIT (MFIT) organized an exhibition Black Fashion Designers (December 2016 to May 2017), focused on the work of African and African American designers and the impact of African and African American models. The project served as an educational resource to understand the connections between the African diaspora experience and fashion history. In addition, two videos were produced, featuring interviews with successful black models, fashion designers and FIT alum Steven Burrows and Jeffrey Banks who discussed the challenges and personal experiences of their careers as black fashion professionals and the importance of diversity.