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Dress sewn by Rosa Parks

African American Museum

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Object Details

Created by

Rosa Parks, American, 1913 - 2005

Subject of

Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007

Description

This dress (a) is a wrap style made from a plain weave viscose fabric with a printed design of dark brown and yellow flowers and leaves. The wrap effect is achieved by crossing the front bodice at the waist seam and gathered fabric on the proper left side of the waist. The skirt is flaired with six (6) gores and three pleats in the skirt at the center front add further to the wrap effect. The set-in full length sleeves are gathered at a 1 1/4" cuff that closes with two metal snaps. The dress has a small shawl collar and a v-neck. The dress closes at the proper left side waist with a zipper. It is unlined, and the seams are pressed open with raw edges exposed. It is machine-sewn except for the hem, which is turned up 2 inches and hand stitched. There are two belt loops made of a thin yellow braid, one at each side seam, which hold the accompanying belt (b) in place.
The belt (b) is made from the same fashion fabric as the dress, with a plain weave beige fabric backing. The front and back of the belt are machine stitched around the edge, and a layer of interfacing beteen them provides some stiffening. The belt has an oval-shaped metal single-prong buckle covered in the dark brown and yellow floral fabric, and five (5) white grommets on the opposite end of the belt for an adjustable closure.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane

Date

1955 - 1956

Object number

2007.3.1ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

dresses
belts (costume accessories)

Medium

synthetic fiber and metal

Dimensions

H x W x D: 47 1/2 × 16 3/4 × 1 1/4 in. (120.7 × 42.5 × 3.2 cm)
Chest: 40 in. (101.6 cm)
Waist: 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm)
Hem circumference: 78 in. (198.1 cm)
Belt: 2 3/4 × 33 1/4 × 3/8 in. (7 × 84.5 × 1 cm)

Place made

Montgomery, Alabama, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Black Fashion Museum Collection

Classification

Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Movement

Civil Rights Movement

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American
American South
Civil Rights
Clothing and dress
Resistance
Segregation
U.S. History, 1953-1961
Urban life
Women

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ad115fb9-8591-47e8-b052-f35fdafbb604

Record ID

nmaahc_2007.3.1ab
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