The Queens Public Library is hosting its second Black History Month Fashion Show, “African Americans in Uniform,” at the Central Library in Jamaica, Thursday, Feb. 20, starting at 4 p.m.
“For Black History Month we will do fashion going back to the 1900s through the 1960s on fashion and labor,” said Jackie Love, the fashion producer of the event and the founder of J. Love Fashion School of Etiquette, via email. “The models will take it back in time with our heroes who fought for us as activists in this country.”
The models from Queens are Linda Derry, Julian Tramantano and Madison Rosa. Models from Westchester, Brooklyn, the Bronx, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut and Manhattan include Daniel Leid, Kamiya Simone, Tyneisa Kinlock, Dallas Arrington, Dajza Harris, Marcus Grumley, K’Nicia King, Jayden Gadson, Keanna Bryant, Milani Ramsay and Khloe Carter.
“The [last] show was such a success, they are all coming back again,” Love told the Chronicle. “They will be dressed up as Nina Simone, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Eartha Kitt. We will also have some kids dressed up as the first African-American police officer and nurse.”
Love, of St. Albans, said one child model will dress up as Ruth Carter, the Oscar winning costume designer of the “Black Panther” films.
Curating the show, to be held at 89-11 Merrick Blvd., is QPL Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels.
McDaniels, of Queens Village, is the co-founder of “Video Music Box,” a hip-hop TV show, which was founded in 1983.
The event will feature fashion commentary by Athena Dent, and music by DJ Stokes, who will intersperse a house music beat with instrumentals from Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” as King’s “I Have A Dream” speech plays, said the fashion producer.
Some models will wear hoodies designed by Shontyce Morris, who is from Queens, of I Wear Me Brand to James Brown’s “I’m Black and I’m Proud,” said Love. Models will also wear designs by Amirah Holmes, 13, of Qumara Boutique.
Amirah is last year’s winner of the Youth Designer of the year award from the Success in the Arts Awards.
