Pictured: Therez Fleetwood headshot
Via: blackfashionhistory.com
Do you know which world couture designer created Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s only Afrocentric costume? Therez Fleetwood is a name that you should know! Therez, originally from Boston, planted her roots for her brand at the tender age of 12 years old, selling original dress designs on the same streets of famed designers such as (Giorgio Armani, and Marc Jacobs), who she admired and one day hoped to follow in their footsteps. After attending New York’s FIT, she went to work with the PheZula Collection label and soon built celebrity clientele: EnVogue, Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett, Queen Latifah, Yolanda Adams, and Kim Fields to name a few. Therez’s fashion designs have been featured globally in Germany, Egypt, Italy, Tanzania, and Australia to date.
Recently Therez has worked with Macy’s store campaigns, writer and director Tyler Perry, and on the 2018 Emmy Awards. She is currently a published author, amongst other accomplishments. In 1998, Therez designed Afrocentric costumes worn by Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the only kente cloth-designed costumes ever worn by the characters. Therez Fleetwood is a cultural icon. Please check out her latest collection a tribute to the Black Harlem Renaissance in design and aesthetics. Happy Black History Month!
Pictured: Therez Fleetwood designs from her 2024 collection
More about the collection:
Renowned fashion designer Therez Fleetwood has unveiled an extraordinary museum-inspired fashion-art collection, bearing the awe-inspiring title, ‘Harlem Renaissance Reveire: A Couture Canvas of Artistic Homage and Cultural Celebration.’ This groundbreaking collection pays tribute to the influential artists of the Harlem Renaissance, a period of immense cultural and artistic flourishing in African American history.
The Intersection of Tradition and Modernity
The collection stands testimony to the harmonious blend of traditional folk art craftsmanship and contemporary design. Each garment is transformed into a storytelling canvas that celebrates the rich cultural heritage and artistic brilliance of the Harlem Renaissance era. The collection features coats inspired by eight luminaries from the Renaissance period, each piece a testament to the artistic ingenuity of a notable figure from that epoch.
Fleetwood’s Touch: Melding Creativity, Culture, and Respect
Therez Fleetwood’s commitment to honoring African American culture and history shines through in every meticulous stitch and weave of this collection. She skillfully merges creativity with a deep respect for African American culture, breathing life into the visionaries’ artwork through a fresh aesthetic. The collection narrates compelling stories, bringing to light the struggles, achievements, and indomitable spirit of African American life during the Harlem Renaissance.
Challenging Industry Norms and Redefining Standards
Through this collection, Fleetwood seeks not just to honor the past, but also to shape the future. She is redefining the boundaries of conventional fashion, making a powerful statement that champions African American life and challenges industry norms. Her work is not just about creating clothes, but about telling rich stories through meticulously crafted pieces. In doing so, she is redefining the fashion industry’s standards, illustrating her dedication to merging creativity with cultural respect.
Photo Credits
First image (top)
Pictured: Therez Fleetwood headshot
Via: blackfashionhistory.com
Second, third, fourth, fifth image
Pictured: Therez Fleetwood designs from her 2024 collection