Lois K. Alexander Lane: Founder of the Black Fashion Museum
Made a number of contributions to the fashion industry as well as the black community. The Little Rock, Arkansas native, born July 11, 1916, was a boutique owner, seamstress and federal employee with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But she is most known for establishing a fashion institute and museum in Harlem, New York. The museum showcased African American designers and highlighted their contributions to the fashion industry.
The 1938 graduate of what is now Hampton University received a master’s degree in retailing, fashion and merchandising at New York University. Her thesis focused on the history of African Americans in retailing, which led to the discovery of many overlooked dressmakers and seamstresses. This interest and discovery led to the Harlem Institute of Fashion in 1966 and the Black Fashion Museum in 1979. The institute offered free classes in dress making and tailoring as well as courses in English, math, and African American history. The success of the institute brought Lane a number of community honors and awards including the 1992 Josephine Shaw Lowell Award for her effort to improve the lives of New Yorkers in need. The museum featured designs and pieces made and worn by African Americans dating back to the 19th century. One of the highlights of the museum was a collection of dresses designed by Ann Lowe, designer of Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding gown.
In 1981, Mrs. Alexander Lane told the Washington Post, “In the process we discovered that few Americans – black or white – are aware of the contributions made by black Americans in the creative fields of fashion… There is an oft-quoted myth that black people are ‘new-found talent’ in the fashion field and we want to change that". Lane made sure to make that change with her contributions and achievements in the industry and community. The dynamic woman’s achievements also include founding the National Association of Milliners, Dressmakers and Tailors, former president of the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers and also a charter member of the National Council of Negro Women.
Lane later opened an extension of the Black Fashion Museum in Washington, D.C. in 1994. Unfortunately the extension did not have as much of an audience and was closed in June of 2007 along with the Harlem Institute of Fashion. Lois K. Alexander Lane passed away September 29, 2007; she had Alzheimer’s disease and lung cancer. Her contributions and achievements in the fashion industry continue to live on.
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