On View
Cultural Expressions Gallery
Exhibition
Cultural Expressions
Designed by
Damali Afrikan Wear, founded 1991
Worn by
Dr. Cole, Johnnetta Betsch, American, born 1936
Date
2012
Medium
synthetic fiber, cotton, and piping, with plastic and metal closures
Dimensions
H x W (.1 flat): 20 1/2 × 33 1/2 in. (52.1 × 85.1 cm)
H x W (.2 flat): 25 × 57 in. (63.5 × 144.8 cm)
H x W (.3 flat): 34 1/2 × 64 1/2 in. (87.6 × 163.8 cm)
Description
An African-inspired ensemble designed by Damali and worn by Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole consisting of a short-sleeved crop jacket (.1), a long-sleeved fitted shirt (.2), and a wide circle skirt (.3).
.1: Cropped jacket with short dolman sleeves and a rounded stand-up collar made from multiple fabrics in muted brown tones. The body and sleeves of the jacket are made from a dark brown satin with raised design of swirling lines. The collar is made from a gold, green, and eggplant design of diamonds. There is one (1) patch pocket sewn at the proper right front made from a textured fabric with a deep brown short piled velvet interspersed with chevrons in orange and cream. The seams down the center of the side panels on the front and back, the edges of the pocket, and two (2) bars across each side of the collar are trimmed in shiny gray piping. The jacket closes at the center front with one (1) black snap. A large round dark brown decorative button is sewn on the proper right front opening. The jacket is lined with a burgundy satin. There is a designer label sewn at the center back interior neck made from white fabric with machine-embroidered black text reading "DAMALI".
.2: Long-sleeved fitted shirt with v-neck made from multiple fabrics in gray tones. The center front bodice is made from a mid-weight olive gray cotton printed with a cream design of alternating undulating stripes of large circles and small circles. A panel of cream satin with brocaded striped sections bisects the center front just below the bust that has a gray circular sunburst brocaded design at the center. The sides and back of the bodice are made from a taupe and black slubbed fabric. The straight cut sleeves are made from a gray and cream fabric with a brocade palm leaf repeating design. Shiny gray piping is sewn along the shaping seams of the bodice on the front and back, at the top and bottom edges of the center decorative panel, and along the sleeve seams. The shirt closes at the center back with an invisible plastic zipper that extends from the center back hem to just below the back yoke. The shirt is not lined. There is a designer label sewn at the center back interior neck made from white fabric with machine-embroidered black text reading "DAMALI" and an additional tag sewn below it reading "DRY CLEAN ONLY".
.3: Olive gray calf-length circle skirt with a wide waist band. The waist band and the top half of the skirt are made from a mid-weight olive gray cotton printed with a cream design of alternating undulating stripes of large circles and small circles. The bottom portion of the skirt is made from a dark olive gray knit blended fabric. The seams joining the two fabrics and the seam around the bottom of the waist band are trimmed in shiny gray piping. The skirt closes at the side waist with a metal zipper and a metal hook-and-eye. The waist band is lined with gray synthetic fabric, the rest of the skirt is not lined.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing-Fashion
Type
jackets
shirts
skirts
Topic
African diaspora
Clothing and dress
Design
Fashion
Fashion design
Local and regional
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Johnnetta Betsch Cole
Object number
2015.209.7.1-.3
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ec0c2734-cccc-40b8-8add-5012acfebd46

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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