As i See IT

SanKofa, Grandassa and Calabar Magazine

// January 9th, 2010 // General

The wonders of Modern day technology and blogging platforms is the ability to look back and reflect! But what if you lost your database! Thanks to the way back machine I was able to save this from on of the earlier post on Brooklyn Fashion Gallery! As I make plans for African Heritage Month I am a bit Nostalgic! The many stories that are lost or rewritten!

photo Courtesy Kwame Braithwaite. AJASS members and Grandassa Models pose in front of some of the circulars from their multitude of productions up to 1968, the year that this was taken. Artists and photographers, they designed and wrote their own magazines, books and brochures.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF  ARTIST

HISTORY OF THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT

More on the Movement

The principle of Sankofa Suggest that is it is not until we revisit the past that we can move towards the future. This past January marked  the 45th anniversary of the “Naturally You” series. “Naturally ’62: The Original African Coiffure and Fashion Extravaganza Designed to Restore Our Racial Pride and Standards ”, with the first show held at Harlem’s Purple Manor on January 28, 1962. The goal of the show was to prove to the world that “Black Is Beautiful.” That first show starred Abbey Lincoln as guest singer and commentator for the show, and famed jazz drummer, Max Roach as Abbey’s accompanist on piano, As we celebrate Black history month and prepare for the Jazz of Fashion 2007.  We will be hosting photographer, advocate and historian Kwame Braithwaite, as ell as other who have been part of The last half Century of African Style and the Black Fashion Industry!   The first step one place to access info on our independent business.

Then a quick and the articles from Calabar Magazine (print edition) are now being  uploaded to their new site!

Brooklyn’s Fashion Melting Pot: Who are the African, Caribbean, Asian and Latino Fashion Designers in Brooklyn?

Now I can link to article and share (via the button on the bottom of the pages) them! I am passionate about  creativity and culture and it’s preservation! Sadly many of the business I interviewed are gone! a cultural lost!

These two reminders came at exactly the right time, even as I question why the hell do  I bother! I remember…  things happen because, and, when people “do”.  To those who make things happen…  The Kwame Braithwaite and the Grandassa models, and Atim Otons and Osun, Bayyinah Sabur, … Thank You

For those who sit by wondering what went wrong and Why thing wont “happen”. I’d Like to introduce you To Bayyinah Sabur! I have been sewing since I was very young , 12, 13! As a child I would accompany My mother to the stores and look Through pattern books…  Suddenly one day their were pattern that represented Africa and the many ways magazines tend to describe them! I was young enough to be impressed! During My years oat FIT I spent  Hours in the costume lab, and libraries,little reference or documentation of African fashion and style could be found!  Years later i would meet Bayinnah Sabur On of he First African American To Hav e her patterns carried By a major pattern company! The patterns That spoke to me as a child!

I can ask any young African American designer today about these individuals and they will not know that history! We cannot move forward without first looking Back! Sankofa!

I have completely  redesigned the Brooklyn Fashion Gallery

All our sites were about researching Functionality of technology! Along the way we developed great search ranking and discovered Niche value!  After  five years, it is still a lead search result for any search on Brooklyn Fashion! Rather than let that go I have decided to redefine the Gallery aspect! For now though that will have to wait first February!

Please click on the links and read these segments! The project I undertake next month is more than technology it is more than commerce it is a responsibility to our legacy!

Thinks Happen when we do!