#stephenburrows

#StephenBurrows #BlackDesignersInHistory #BlackHistory #BlackExcellence Stephen Burrows was taught to sew by his grandmother. By 1969, Burrows had opened O Boutique; he then started his own ready-to-wear collection. The opening of the "Stephen Burrows" boutique at the iconic Henri Bendels catapulted his career. The collection was bold and bright and drew the attention of Diana Ross and Cher. Burrows' clothes were the embodiment of the era and its glittering Studio 54 nightlife aesthetic. He was drawn to disco and used silk and jersey that reflected movement and color. Burrows crafted a close fit and a slim silhouette, the "Burrows Signature," along with the "lettuce hem," a narrow zig-zag stitch, which became his trademark. Burrows was chosen along with Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, and Anne Klein to represent America in the Battle of Versailles, a fashion face-off against French powerhouses Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, and Emanuel Ungaro. It was the night that American fashion stumbled into the spotlight and made history. He garnered a European audience, won the Coty 3 times, and was bestowed “The Board of Directors Special Tribute” by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Burrows continues to design today. https://www.instagram.com/p/CLwrjMDsj0G/?igshid=6ulw485cwv72

#1970s #stephenburrows ❤️❤️#jerseyknit #jumpsuit #thebattleofversailles #nyc #americandesign #fashionhistory (at Fred Segal) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtknPTPgQZk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1smi7lnvckonm

Stephen Burrows exhibit at The Manhattan Vintage Show! 🌈 This was the best way for me to spend my birthday weekend...selling my vintage wares at the October show featuring one of my favorite knitwear designers! 💋 @thevintageshow @les_femmes_vintage @stephenburrowsworld #thevintageshow #stephenburrows #70sfashion #vintagefashion #knits #vintage #fashion #designervintage #asseen on #patcleveland #fashionhistory #blackhistory #findyourownstyle #lesfemmes (at Metropolitan Pavillon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNfa0QHjNh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=exhr00kknfvc

is fashion, modern? 

#fashion #illustration #creativeart #readingcollege #stephenburrows

"I have a friend #KevinSullivan who died in 1988 from #AIDS complications. He was blind toward the end unfortunately. A successful model and dead at 28. He was signed with Wilhelmenia Modeling Agency. #StephenBurrows the designer helped him quite a bit to achieve his career. I still miss him. I flew from #Miami to say goodbye at #NYU hospital. He died the following morning and I was so grateful to have that last moment with him. He was from #Pennsylvania when I met him at 19. He had just arrived in NYC with dreams, freckles and wearing overalls. I rushed him to #Bloomingdales for an urgent makeover and he never looked back. He was adorable and so naive. He was disciplined and driven to succeed. He worked out at the Tony Sansone gym by 14th Street to achieve his goal. I will always be so proud of my friend for so many reasons. I still dream about him. I loved him dearly. His parents took his body and didn't allow contact any of us where he was laid to rest or invited us to his service. I knew his Grandmother and Aunt who I had met numerous times. That added to the shock of losing him. I still don't know where in PA he is buried or if he was cremated. I tried to find out but haven't found any answers. Hospital just shared he died that morning and no other information. I was getting dressed to go see him again. The nurse was kind and shared that there was no point in coming. His body had been taken out of the hospital immediately. I was crushed" - by Tristan Andreu #whatisrememberedlives #theaidsmemorial #aidsmemorial #neverforget #endaids #lgbthistory

#stephenburrows #fashion #fashiondesign #pioneer #blackfashiondesigners #blog #blackhistory #28daysblackhistory

Day 20. Stephen Burrows is known for being the first African-American fashion designer to develop a mainstream, high-fashion clientele. His garments, known for their bright colors and "lettuce" curly-edges, became an integral part of the "Fun City" New York City disco-dancing scene of the 1970s. Burrows attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where he graduated in 1966. Upon graduation, Burrows was hired as a fashion designer for Weber Originals, but decided to work freelance. In 1969, Burrows was introduced to Geraldine Stutz, president of the Henri Bendel department store, and was hired and offered his own boutique called Stephen Burrows World. The success of Stephen Burrows World was immediate, and allowed Burrows to cater to celebrity clientele such as Diana Ross, Cher and Barbra Streisand. In 1973, Burrows was one of five American designers, and the only black designer, to be invited to show his clothes on the runway in the infamous Battle of Versailles Fashion Show. Burrows received rave reviews, becoming the first African-American designer to gain international fame. Burrows has been honored with three Coty American Fashion Critics’ Awards, the highest praise that can be awarded in fashion. He was also awarded an even higher honor when former First Lady Michelle Obama wore one of Burrows jersey pantsuits to a Washington, DC event. Remarking on the significance, Vogue Magazine wrote, "It was a wonderful acknowledgement of Burrows, one of the great African-American designers and a Harlem resident known for his inventive cuts and bias technique." Born: May 15, 1943, Newark, NJ #BlackHistoryMonth #2017 #Day20 #StephenBurrows #FashionThatDanced