Ann Lowe The First African American Fashion Designer 1898-1981

     Ann Lowe was a born in Clayton, Alabama, She's the great granddaughter of plantation owner and a salve women. Ann interest in fashion came from her mother and late grandmother both whom were seamstresses. At the age of 16 years old lowe lost her mother. In 1912, she married Lee Cohen with whom she had a son with.. In 1917 Ann move to New York City to pursue a career in fashion. She attend  a segregated school. S.T Taylor Design School, were she attend classes alone. Lowe and her son moved to Tampa, Florida after she graduated in 1919. the next year, she opened her first dress salon. The salon  Annie Cohen catered to high society member and her salon became a success quickly. Lowe returned to New York and work commission at store like, Henri Bendel, Chez Sonia, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Ann Lowe Created Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding dress and grown worn by actress Olivia de Havilland wore when she accepted the Oscar of best actress. Anne Cole Lowe opened Anne Lowe originals inside the Saks Fifth Ave department store on Madison Ave in New York. Her amazing work still lives on in the permanent archives at the black fashion Museum and the Smothsonian.