Wesley Tann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wesley Tann
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Tann at work, 1965
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| Born |
John Wesley Tann Jr
July 17, 1928 |
| Died | November 23, 2012 (aged 84) |
| Education | Howard University |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
John Wesley Tann Jr. (born July 17, 1928 – died November 23, 2012) was a talented American fashion designer. He created beautiful clothes for many famous people. His clients included Jacqueline Kennedy, who was the First Lady, and famous singers like Diahann Carroll and Leontyne Price. He also designed for several Miss America winners.
In 1962, he created a special collection that featured dresses inspired by the sari, a traditional Indian garment. Later in his life, he worked as an interior designer, even helping with projects at The Pentagon. He also taught classes on good manners (etiquette) in Newark, New Jersey. A road in Newark, New Jersey is named after him to honor his achievements.
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Early Life and Education
John Tann was born on July 17, 1928, in Rich Square, North Carolina. His father, John Wesley Tann, was a farmer. His mother, Abbie Mitchell, was a dressmaker who taught him how to sew. He also had a sister named Mabel.
When John was 13, his mother passed away. He then moved to Washington, D.C., and stayed at the YMCA. For about six years, he lived with Representative Adam Clayton Powell, who was a member of the U.S. Congress.
Powell helped John go to the International School of Etiquette and Protocol. He also introduced him to Belford Lawson, a civil rights lawyer. With their help, John finished high school. He then earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University.
After college, John moved back to Newark, New Jersey, with his sister for a short time. He then attended the Hartford Art School of Fashion in Connecticut. While studying, he worked several jobs, including dressmaking and at an aircraft factory. He was also active in local theater groups.
By 1954, John was in New York City. He studied at the Mayer School of Fashion and took night classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He also learned from famous designers like Pauline Trigère and Oscar de la Renta.
Fashion Career Highlights
While at the Mayer School, John worked as an assistant for several clothing companies. He helped make many different types of clothes. These included lingerie, bridal wear, cocktail dresses, and sportswear. In 1960, he started working for Mister Vee, a company that made clothes for other brands.
Starting His Own Company
In 1961, John Wesley Tann started his own fashion company. He had a small studio on West 27th Street in Manhattan. He also opened a shop to help other young designers show their work. The New York Amsterdam News reported that his shop was on New York City's Seventh Avenue. They said he was the first Black designer to open a shop there.
John Tann designed clothes for many well-known people. His clients included Jacqueline Kennedy, Diahann Carroll, Carmen de Lavallade, and Leontyne Price. He also designed for several Miss America winners. Later, he even submitted a design for a sheath dress for Michelle Obama.
In 1964, John took part in a demonstration of new technology called Picturephone. This showed how telephones might be used to sell fashion in the future. After his shop closed in 1965, he continued to teach and support younger Black designers in New York.
Sari-Inspired Designs
In 1962, Jacqueline Kennedy visited India and Pakistan. She brought back several saris, planning to have them made into dresses. This sparked a trend, and many designers, including John Tann, created dresses inspired by the sari.
John Tann made several beautiful dresses using saris. Two of his designs were featured in The New York Times. These dresses were sold at Henri Bendel, a famous department store. One was a turquoise and gold silk suit, and the other was a two-piece red and gold dress. Joseph Horne Company in Philadelphia also sold his sari-inspired dresses.
Later Work and Challenges
In 1962, John told the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper that his race had helped him. He felt that being Black made him stand out, drawing more attention to his designs. However, in his later years, he told The Star-Ledger that it had been difficult to get the fabrics he needed because of his race.
After his fashion career, John worked in interior design. He even worked on projects at The Pentagon, a large government building. Later in life, he returned to Newark, New Jersey. There, he taught classes on etiquette (good manners) and decorating. He also volunteered his time to decorate homes for Habitat for Humanity in Newark.
Recognition and Legacy
In the 1960s, Women's Wear Daily, a major fashion newspaper, called John Tann a "young individualist." They noted that his dresses were always fully lined and that his ideas were "bold" with "careful workmanship." In 1973, Women's Wear Daily featured him in an article called "The American Spirit of '73." They praised his early work as a fashion pioneer.
In 1999, JCPenney honored John Tann in a tribute to Black Americans. This tribute was published in several magazines and newspapers. In 2004, the Fashion and Arts Xchange recognized his "pioneering contributions" to fashion. In 2007, Ebony magazine called him "among the first Blacks to have a successful and visible clothing business" in New York City's fashion center.
John Tann's work was also shown in two museum exhibitions. These included Black Style Now at the Museum of the City of New York (2006-2007). His designs were also part of the Black Fashion Designers exhibition at the Museum of Fashion Institute of Technology (2016-2017).
Death and Lasting Impact
John Wesley Tann Jr. passed away on November 23, 2012. To honor his contributions, a road in Newark, New Jersey, is named after him. His work as a fashion designer and his efforts to help others left a lasting impact.
