(1898- 1981)
" Lowe designed the dress that Jacqueline Bouvier wore when she married Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1953, and all the dresses worn by the bridal party. It is one of the most remembered wedding gowns ever; 50 yards “of silk taffeta… embellished with interwoven bands of tucking, finished with a portrait neckline and a bouffant skirt.” The New York Times covered the event, dress included; Lowe was not mentioned. When asked, even when she was married to Onassis, Jackie would say that it had been made by “a colored woman.” One of the first African American fashion designers to receive international acclaim, Lowe’s designs were favored by high society women for 40 years—from the 1920s through the 1960s. Born around 1898 in Clayton, Alabama (exact date unknown), Lowe’s great-grandmother had been enslaved, and had a daughter by the plantation owner in a despicable era of American history where a person of color was property. The child, Georgia Tompkins, was born enslaved, but was emancipated when purchased by a freeman, General Cole." To read more about her story click the link.
"Considered one of America’s most significant designers, Ann Cole Lowe was influential in paving the way for African Americans in the fashion industry. During her illustrious 50-year career, her extraordinary garments earned her prominent clientele, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Marjorie Merriweather Post, and the Rockefellers. But her journey to success was fraught with challenges—it reflected decades of resilience and perseverance." To learn more click the link.
https://thevintagewomanmagazine.com/haute-history-ann-cole-lowe/
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/ann-lowe-fashion-icon
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/29/ann-lowes-barrier-breaking-mid-century-couture
