Fashion Designer, Ann Lowe, was an African-American dress-maker born in Clayton, Alabama. Her choice of career was influenced by her Mother who was a seamstress. Ann went to design school in New York. In the 1950's she met Jacqueline Bouvier, who ordered some of her dresses. When Jacqueline became engaged to John Kennedy, she decided to get her wedding dress designed by Ann Lowe, as well as 10 additional dresses for the wedding party. In 1961 Ms. Lowe opened a boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue. The same year she was awarded the Couturier of the Year Plaque by New York Fashion society. She appeared in the National Social Directory and 1968 Who's Who of American Women. She also opened a new store on Madison Avenue in New York, which did very well. She made more than 2,000 dresses for the society ladies of New York, and was well known for using the "trapunto" technique in her dressmaking. Five of her gowns are now in the permanent collection of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Others are in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, and the Black Fashion Museum in Harlem. Anne Cole Lowe retired in the 1970s and died in 1981 at the age of 82. She is survived by her adopted daughter, Ruth Alexander, a granddaughter and two great grandchildren. Her funeral was held at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 138th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, in Manhattan.
Fashion Designer, Ann Lowe, was an African-American dress-maker born in Clayton, Alabama. Her choice of career was influenced by her Mother who was a seamstress. Ann went to design school in New York. In the 1950's she met Jacqueline Bouvier, who ordered some of her dresses. When Jacqueline became engaged to John Kennedy, she decided to get her wedding dress designed by Ann Lowe, as well as 10 additional dresses for the wedding party. In 1961 Ms. Lowe opened a boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue. The same year she was awarded the Couturier of the Year Plaque by New York Fashion society. She appeared in the National Social Directory and 1968 Who's Who of American Women. She also opened a new store on Madison Avenue in New York, which did very well. She made more than 2,000 dresses for the society ladies of New York, and was well known for using the "trapunto" technique in her dressmaking. Five of her gowns are now in the permanent collection of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Others are in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, and the Black Fashion Museum in Harlem. Anne Cole Lowe retired in the 1970s and died in 1981 at the age of 82. She is survived by her adopted daughter, Ruth Alexander, a granddaughter and two great grandchildren. Her funeral was held at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 138th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, in Manhattan.
Bio by: A. L. Parrish
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