Hi! For our final Art & Fashion Spotlight this year we're going back to fashion. Last Fashion Spotlight I featured a trailblazer who wore beautiful garments, and this time I'd like to focus on someone who created them. My original choice for this Spotlight is a person who isn't often discussed or highlighted, so I want to take the time to research him properly. I guess that means at least one of next year's Fashion Spotlights is already in the works then, lol. Today's entrant doesn't have a ton of information available on her either, but I know more about her than my original choice, and her story's quite interesting. Let's get into it!
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Name: Ola Hudson, 1946-2009
Profession: Fashion and costume designer, photographer, dancer
Why is the Spotlight on her today? For her underrated accomplishments and contributions to fashion and influencing pop culture through her work
Notables:
--Designed some of the clothing for David Bowie's 10th album, most notably the now iconic "Thin White Duke" waistcoat and pants, and later the clothing worn on the tour for said album
--Designed for a number of celebrities during her career, including Linda Gold, Janet Jackson, her son Slash, and The Pointer Sisters
--Studied costume and fashion design at Santa Monica College
--Attended the Lester Horton School of Modern Dance, then the Paris Institute of Dance, Le Loft, and the Max Rivers School with original aspirations to be a dancer
--Had her own design company, Ola Hudson Enterprises, Inc.
--Has some of her work, including a few of the more notable pieces she created for Bowie, on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art
--Designed specialized collections for different brands, including Henri Bendel and Neiman Marcus
--Had her work featured in a fashion show called "Los Angeles Space-Age Designs: Past-Present-Future"
--Opened her own boutique called Skitzo on the Sunset Strip
--Was able to have her photography and poetry featured in major publications throughout her career
Further reading and resources:
Quote of the Day:
“She was responsible for exposing me to a lot of the music that would influence me as a musician growing up. She turned me on to all different forms of art & the importance of artistic self expression & creative communication through music & dance from as early on as I can remember. She really was all things artistic & creative personified & the world is a lesser place without her.”
-Saul "Slash" Hudson, about his mother
Today's organization: Barbershop Books
What does this organization provide? Resources, empowerment and an environment to teach and encourage young Black boys to read. The major goal is to create kid-friendly reading spaces in barbershops, with barbers who can help cultivate a positive response to reading. It helps to counter the large statistic of Black boys and their proficiency in reading, as well as involve Black men in the process of teaching young men to read and enjoy doing so.
See you tomorrow!
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