Isaiah Dent's Final Fashion Collection

Archive Post from August 2022

Black is Beautiful; Black aesthetics and the weaving of global traditions

This affirmation, made popular in the civil rights movement era of the 60s represented an ideological shift in the ways we saw ourselves, and our history. Black culture made a return to Black aesthetics which included reconnection with the African continent and creating and evaluating art based on criteria that were relevant to black life and culture.

As an advocate for Hays Manor and the living conditions of black people in Mckees Rocks, Isaiah Dent's life, legacy and creative pursuits was an example of that shift and the declaration that black is beautiful.

This first featured piece is a marriage of West African, Black American and Japanese design and cultural significance. It was created from mudcloth fabric which comes from the West African country of Mali, then dyed from the starch of cut potatoes , cut into the shape of a kimono. It embodies the disco culture of the 60s and 70s with holographic sequins. Accentuated by the sun, the ensemble gives the iridescence of a disco ball.

Michael described this piece as soft, draping, and noted that [the sleeves] comes down the length of [his] arms like wings. And that the design felt nostalgic to him, like the 90s.

The Computer Age: a new tradition, of loving and living for real

A three piece suit, made of lightweight fabric. The floor length duster jacket that floats behind me like a flag when Michael walks. It is vibrant, bold and represents an evolution in technology, design and thinking. Isaiah was a purveyor of fabrics and textures. He was familiar with the silks and lamaze of the 70s and 80s, but he loved the variety that West African Design exposed him to. Fusing these two together, he brought an international perspective to his artistic practice. This piece takes this evolution of thinking to the next level with computer generated design. The patterns here are computer generated and West African inspired, while the garment itself takes the shape of a kimono. This piece represents his looking outward and inward processing of the world around him. With the evolution of technology, computers and social media we’ve had unprecedented access to information, including images of black people, stories of our struggles and triumphs along our journeys to loving and living as our authentic selves.

When the sun hits the metallic gold tones in this ensemble, it creates a glimmer. Maybe this glimmer represents the hope shown through the evolution of the affirmation: black is beautiful. Where black is beautiful in its pride, resilience, fight and revolution, we all can also see beauty in black that is healing, that is grieving, that is not perfect but is trying. We see beauty in every color and every shade, every shape, and every size.

Walking the streets of McKees Rocks in his colorful and African inspired designs, Isaiah’s looks often caught the attention of people who would just stare at him. He would say hello to these people, and he would expect a response back. This design and these stories serve to remind us to be our full and authentic selves, to explore where our curiosity leads us, to greet the world as we are and let the rest unfold for us.

Special thanks to Willie Dawson for loaning us the garments from Isaiah Dent's final fashion collection and inviting Michael and I into his home to learn more about Isaiah, capture these images and present these three looks at the annual Juneteenth Celebration hosted by the African American Celebration of the Arts Committee.