Jaxon, Jay
1941-2006 · Contribution: 1960s-1990s
First African American to head a Parisian couture house; designed for Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Became the first Black designer to head a Parisian couture house, working at major fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, before designing costumes for film and television and creating Annie Lennox's suit for the 1984 Grammy Awards.
Life & background
Born in Queens, New York, Jaxon became a pioneering French couture designer, working within esteemed Paris fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior and becoming the first African American to head a Parisian couture house. He later created costumes for Hollywood productions and television shows including 'Ally McBeal' and 'American Dreams,' and designed Annie Lennox's suit for the 1984 Grammy Awards.
Sources
- WWD (Women's Wear Daily); Lisby, *Black Designers in American Fashion* (Bloomsbury, 2021); Hillwood Estate Museum
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