Shannah Rose

02/19/2021

Finally creating again! Working on my vintage inspired circle skirt with tie waist. This version is wool with cotton pockets and waist band.
Thank you Lady Tenderflake for inspiring me to create again. 😊

08/10/2020

Mask making for a new venture ! 100% cotton, 2 layers, metal nose piece, opening for filter. $10 each. Feeling my Celtic heritage more than ever. 💚
Comment or message me if you'd like one (or more) or just want more details!
@ Edmonton, Alberta

06/08/2020

Up today for is the author, illustrator, & fashion designer Jacqueline Ayer.
She was born in NYC in 1930 to Jamaican parents. Her father, Edward Brandford, founded the 1st licenced African-American modeling agency in the US, The Brandford Modeling Agency. Her mother, Thelma Brandford, was a sample cutter and shop steward for the ILGWU. The family lived in the East Bronx cooperative built for garment workers, the "Coops".
After attending Syracuse University, she went to Paris to the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere for drawing, the École Paul Colin for graphics, & the École des Beaux-Arts for painting.
While in France in the early '50's, she worked as a fashion illustrator. This is how she met Christian Dior & Michel de Brunhoff, editor of Vogue Paris, who helped to support and develop her work.
After briefly returning to the NYC in'53, working as a fashion illustrator for the Bonwit Taylor department store, she returned to Paris in '56. Here she met and married Frederic Ayer. The couple travelled across Asia, before settling in Bangkok.
Inspired by her surroundings, she wrote childrens books (4 as an author, 4 as an illustrator) including Nu Dang and His Kite, A Wish For Little Sister, & A Paper Flower Tree.
Here is also where she met Jim Thompson, founder of The Thai Silk Company. On his recommendation she was hired as designer to modernize traditional Thai patterns and print them on silk. She named this company Design-Thai. These designs, both in silk and cotton, were popular, and Ayer designed both textiles and clothing patterns. This success allowed Design-Thai to expand and branch into ready-to-wear. In '66-'67 her company had 400 employees and during her time there sold in high end shops, including Harrod's.
In the '70's she worked for the Indian Gov't helping to develop traditional crafts and cottage industries across the country.
She eventually settles in London, designing soft furnishings for The Conran Shop & Ralph Lauren.
To read more about this revolutionary talent, see: https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/05/02/jacqueline-ayer-nu-dang-and-his-kite/

06/07/2020

Featuring Ethiopian American fashion designer & entrepreneur, Amsale Aberra.
Born in Ethiopia in 1954, she moved to Vermont at 19, studying commercial art at Green Mountain College. Due to political upheaval, she stayed in the USA, supporting herself through her undergraduate years where she started designing & sewing her own clothing. For the first time she considered a career in fashion design.
After earning her degree in political science from Boston State College, she went to New York and enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), there earning an associate degree in Fashion Design.
After earning her degree, she went to work as a design assistant for Harve Benard for 2 yrs. Then she started her own bridal gown company. Her approach was to create stunning, simple gowns to fit the modern woman, with a philosophy of "forever" modern approach to sophisticated design.
In '85, after being unable to find a simple, refined wedding dress, she placed an ad for custom-made gowns and started her business from her NYC loft apartment.
Overtime she expanded her line to include a regular Amsale line, as well as Amsale Blue, The Little White Dress, bridesmaids dresses, & cocktail dresses, and in 2003 the Kenneth Pool label. Then in 2005 she aquired the Christos label, which she used to create more romantic feeling gowns. Her main field of design stayed in couture wedding gowns. Her flagship boutique located on Madison Ave. in NYC opened in 2006, only the 3rd bridal designer to open there. Her stunning creations were also being carried in the bridal boutiques of Saks Fifth Ave. and Neiman Marcus.
Amsale was a member of the CFDA, featured twice on Ebony Magazine's "Power 150" list, and the 2012 winner of The Legacy Award at Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit.
Aberra passed away of uterine cancer in 2018 at the age of only 64.
To read more about this wonderfully talented woman, see: https://www.brides.com/story/best-amsale-wedding-dresses

06/05/2020

Today I'm shining the spotlight on an iconic designer who left us too soon: Ola Hudson.
Born Ola Oliver Oct. 12, 1946, this amazing African American, L.A. born, English fashion designer, originally studied dance. She attended the Lester Horton School of Modern Dance, studied with Linda Gold and Bella Lewitzsky, before going to the Institute of Dance in Paris & Le Loft in Switzerland.
In London she met amd married Anthony Hudson, giving birth to Saul (a.k.a Slash from GNR) in '65 and Albion (a.k.a. Ash) in '72.
Her design company, Ola Hudson Enterprises, Inc., based in Hollywood, designed for superstars such as David Bowie, the Pointer Sisters, Carly Simon, Diana Ross, John Lennon, Janet Jackson, & Ringo Star. She also created special collections for Arpeja, Henri Bendel, Right Bank Clothing, Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, & Maxfield Blu of L.A..
Her work was known to be minimal, but she also liked to go reto, featuring '40's design elements. She refered to her own work as "It's getting right down to basics."
Her creations have been featured at a '74 show, Los Angeles Space-Age Designs: Past-Present-Future, and are on permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.
This amazing talent left us June 5, '09 after a battle with cancer.
To learn more about this icon, see:
https://www.paulgormanis.com/?p=21732
https://lovepeacenslander.com/index.php/2019/02/13/ola-hudson-the-mother-of-rocks-legendary-style-design/

06/04/2020

Today's featured fabulous designer is Ann Lowe.
Born Ann Cole Lowe Dec. 14, 1898, she graduated from S.T. Talyor Design school in 1919 and was the first African American to become a notable fashion designer. Her OOAK designs were favourites with high society from the '20's to the '60s.
Opening her first salon in Tampa, FL in 1920, quickly becoming a success. In '28 she returned to New York City working on commission for various stores such as Henri Bendel, Chez Sonia, Neiman Marcus, & Saks Fifth Avenue. Olivia de Havilland wore one of her stunning custom dresses to accept the Academy Award for Best Actress for To Each His Own in '48, though it was under the label of Sonia Rosenberg.
To start getting credit for her own work, she and her son opened her second salon, Ann Lowe's Gowns, in 1950 on Lexington Ave and her stunning gowns in exquisite fabrics were an instant success. She was even called "society's best kept secret" by the Saturday Evening Post.
In '53 she was hired to design the wedding dress, as well as the bridal attendants, for Jacqueline Bouvier for her wedding to J.F.K. She had designed Jackie's mother's wedding dress in '42.
This project almost didn't come to pass when a water pipe broke in her salon, ruining all bridal party dresses, including the wedding dress. Not willing to give up, she bought more fabric and started again.
Even though she worked for some of the most wealthy society women, they often talked her out of charging appropriately for her creations, and later admitted that at the height of her career she was virtually broke. In 1961 she received the Couturier of the Year award. And in '62 she lost her salon, unable to pay her taxes, and her left eye to glaucoma.
An anonymous friend paid her debts while she was recovering from her surgery, which allowed her to work again. She opened a new store in '68, after having surgery to save her right eye. She retired in '72.
See here for more info on this talented woman! : https://www.elle.com/fashion/amp29019843/jackie-kennedy-wedding-dress-designer-ann-lowe/

06/03/2020

So, instead of keeping a blank screen for a week, I've decided to promote amazing POC designers. This is fashion history we rarely hear about but deserves as much spotlight as the ones we know!
First up, Zelda Wynn Valdes. Raised in Charlotte, NC, this classically trained pianist started her design and dressmaking career in her uncle's tailoring shop in White Plains, NY, and a high-end boutique she worked at during the same period.
In 1935 she started her own dressmaking business, and in 1948 she opened "Zelda Wynn", the first black-owned business on Broadway. Her clientele included Dorothy Dandridge, Jessye Norman (image 3), Gladys Knight, Josephine Baker, Mae West, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt (image 2 -a fitting), and Marian Anderson.
She also designed the first Pl***oy Bunny outfits!
Beginning in the 60's Valdes worked with the Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited & Associated Community Teams (HARYOU-ACT) and the National Association of Fashion Accessory Designers, teaching and promoting African American design talent.
She continued designing, expanding into the world of dance theatre, starting in '70 with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. By '92 she'd designed 82 productions.
If you want to learn more about this truly inspiring woman, see https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/valdes-zelda-barbour-wynn-1901-2001/

06/02/2020

03/18/2020

Spending this time at home unpacking and (starting) to sort my new home studio! I keep finding fabrics I forgot that I had and falling in love with them all over again! Back to creating soon!
Hope everyone is finding some form of joy in this ! Stay healthy, wash your hands, stay hydrated, & keep taking care of each other. 💚

03/08/2020

Happy International Women's Day! On this day when we celebrate how strong and amazing women are, I'd like to celebrate 2 of the main women behind Shannah Rose. First is Rose Thomas, known to all of us in her family as Chummy. She was my great-Grandmother and an amazing dress-maker! A master at her craft she made sure to pass on the art to her daughter and granddaughters. Her granddaughter, Shannah Gail , known to all as Gail (or Mum), also became a master dress-maker under her guidance. In turn, Gail, my Mum, taught me everything she had learned from Chummy. Together, Rose and Shannah Gail, laid the foundations for my love and passion for this art, & for Shannah Rose itself. I am forever grateful to them both, as well as all the other strong females who have been there to guide and support me,family and friends, in the past, and going forward. 💚

01/01/2020

Well 2019 has been an interesting/difficult year for me business wise and personally. Thank you all for your support through this year (and throughout my career)! Restructuring now and coming back stronger in 2020! Happy New Year and health and happiness to you all!

09/24/2019

Fall colours. Nature is inspiring. 💚🍂🍁