The Best, The Brightest, The Dressed

The Best, The Brightest, The Dressed

Author: Pineapple Street Studios | The Fashion and Race Database | Tommy Hilfiger May 11, 2022 Duration: 36:58
1900, 1987, 2018 - three moments when HBCU fashion culture expanded perceptions of being Black in America. We explore what it meant then—and today. Featuring Darnell Jamal-Lisby, Ceci, Jasmine Guy, Elizabeth Way and Monica Miller.  Syllabus:  The impact of HBCU style has extended beyond the campus, reaching the tv screen and the runway. Guest Darnell-Jamal Lisby takes us on a journey through its history in “Styling the Quad: Fashioning the Legacy of HBCU Culture.”  “Welcome to Homecoming!” celebrates the traditions of Homecoming celebrations at historically Black colleges and universities across the nation. Authored by guest Monica Miller, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity emphasizes the importance of sartorial style to Black identity formation in the Atlantic diaspora – and tells the story of a very fashionable young W.E.B. DuBois. How does it feel to be groomed as the "solution" to a national Black male "problem"? This is the guiding paradox of Respectable: Politics and Paradox in Making the Morehouse Man , an in-depth examination of graduates of Morehouse College, the nation's only historically Black college for men. “Madras Fabric” details the origins of a style of cotton from India used to great effect in many of the Caribbean islands as the basis for their national costumes and extensively by designers such as Ralph Lauren.  For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://fashionandrace.org/database/ep4-the-best-the-brightest-the-dressed/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fashion educator Kimberly Jenkins guides listeners through a compelling five-part series titled The Invisible Seam, which meticulously traces how Black Americans have used clothing as a powerful language. This podcast moves beyond mere aesthetics to uncover stories where style became a tool for demanding dignity, subverting social norms, and forging resilient communities. Each episode focuses on specific historical moments, revealing a legacy of innovation and imagination that has profoundly shaped global fashion, yet often remains overlooked. The conversations delve into the deeper meanings woven into fabric and silhouette, exploring how personal and collective identity is expressed and contested through what we wear. Produced through a collaboration between Pineapple Street Studios, The Fashion and Race Database, and Tommy Hilfiger’s People’s Place Program, the series offers a rich, narrative-driven examination of culture and history. Listeners will find a thoughtfully researched and deeply human exploration of the intersection where personal adornment meets social change. The The Invisible Seam podcast doesn't just recount history; it illuminates the enduring influence of Black creativity and resilience, offering a new lens through which to understand the very fabric of American life and its sartorial expressions. It’s an essential listen for anyone curious about the true stories behind the styles we take for granted.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 8

The Invisible Seam
Podcast Episodes
The Connecting Thread [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:22
In this bonus episode, our host Kimberly Jenkins has reflective, candid conversations with designers Clarence Ruth, Megan Renee and Johnathan Hayden. They discuss their inspirations, trajectories and cultural influences;…
Loose Threads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
Fashion academia and the fashion industry don’t often talk to each other, but that’s exactly why we have this podcast. In this bonus episode, Kimberly sits down with Randy Cousin, who leads The People’s Place Program at…
There Will Be No More Doors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
When some of us go through doors, we take them off their hinges. What does the future of fashion look like, and how do we get there? Featuring Aria Hughes, Brandice Daniel, Law Roach, Randy Cousin, Ade Samuel, Connor McK…
Statement Piece [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:38
All white, top hat, Sunday best, black beret, denim - these have been tools of protest and catalysts for change throughout history. Now we’re unpacking the relationship between what we wear and what we believe. Featuring…
Rhythm and Muse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:59
When hip-hop’s popularity skyrocketed in the 90s and early 2000s, designers and stylists embraced—and dressed—their tribes. And the world took notice. Featuring Monica Morrow, Boz Bradshaw, Elena Romero and April Walker.…
No Blueprint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:35
They fell in love with fashion. They remixed looks, dressed our favorite characters, ignited the industry, took what others might’ve seen as scraps and made them beautiful. They carved out a space for themselves. Featuri…
Introducing: The Invisible Seam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:33
Often unappreciated, but never unnoticed - welcome to the show that celebrates Black contributions to fashion. Hosted by fashion educator Kimberly Jenkins, this five-part series explores moments in history when Black Ame…