Unbreaking Media: Presented by The Conversationalist

Ep. 17: 5 Things You Should Know About American Fashion History (w/ Dr. Jonathan Michael Square)

Episode Summary

In today's episode, Dr. Jonathan Michael Square (@stylesquared), fashion historian, Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at the Parsons School of Design, and Fellow at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, tells the surprising stories behind five designers, objects, and brands in the history of American fashion.

Episode Notes

In today's episode, Dr. Jonathan Michael Square (@stylesquared), fashion historian, Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at the Parsons School of Design, and Fellow at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, tells the surprising stories behind five designers, objects, and brands in the history of American fashion.

Follow Dr. Square's project, Fashioning the Self in Slavery and Freedom, at @FashioningSelf on Twitter, or elsewhere at https://linktr.ee/fashioningtheself

Dr. Square provided these additional notes on the topics discussed in the episode:

  1. Here more of my thoughts on denim in the PBS documentary Riveted
  2. In the second chapter of this volume on black fashion makers, I highlight the work and legacy of Elizabeth Keckley and Ann Lowe.
  3. Elizabeth Keckley was not only a talented designer, but also an excellent wordsmith. She wielded both textiles andtexts expertly. Her memoir is called Behind the Scenes. 
  4. An article published in Vestoj on Brooks Brothers’ connection to slavery
  5. An essay I wrote for the collaboration of Greg Lauren, nephew of Ralph Lauren, with the Gee’s Bend quilters.
  6. If you like my unique take on fashion, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. 
     

Learn more about Dr. Square at jonathansquare.com

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This podcast was edited by Dan Thorn (@danieljtvthorn).