The African American Seamstress

Many African women and men brought to America during the 17th 18th and 19th centuries were accustomed to making clothing because in many of the Western African tribes they came from they often made the garments worn by their tribes. Tradtionally, village women spun cloth, dyed fabrics and produced garmets. Weaving was done by both men and women with gender specific looms. Upon arrival to the "New" world (southern plantations) children were responsible for spinning and carding cotton. Patterns and sewing needles were given to them by their owners and enslaved women made garments for owners and slaves alike. However instead of their traditional African styles of clothing, European style clothing became the norm of the newly arrived slaves. This led to the emergence of early Black female fashion designers such as Elizabeth Keckly. She supported herself and family through her dressmaking skills. She bought her freedom, moved to Washington D.C. there she became famous for the inaugural gown she designed for Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. She was also a well respected business woman and worked towards the abolition of slavery through her affluent well-connected white clients. And so it began..Blacks' contributions to western culture through fashion