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Donna Dove is a revolutionary fashion designer, artist and
entrepreneur with her workspace and business set up in her
apartment in Harlem. I consider Ms. Dove a revolutionary
fashion designer and artist for her keen and authentic understanding
of art, through her ability to reach back to her origins
for inspiration and her syncretism of fashion design and
the fine arts.
Born in Trinidad, Donna Dove moved to the United States
during a family migration during the 1970s. However, much
of her inspiration comes from her homeland. When asked how
much of her inspiration comes from Trinidad, Ms. Dove enthusiastically
replied, “fifty percent!” Furthermore, her passion
for art was supported by and nurtured by her family. Her
mother was seamstress, and, growing up, she soon developed
the hobby for making clothes for her dolls. Furthermore,
she admired her five older sisters and always sewed and
designed clothing for them, with supervision from her mother.
Growing up in Trinidad, sewing “was really a business
for her, [while it was] a hobby for me.”
Outside
of the home, she began taking painting classes in Trinidad,
developing her skill in the fine arts, before she moved
to the United States and was accepted into the Fashion Institute
of Technology here in New York City. And over the course
of her career, she has worked with designers, photographers,
stylists, makeup artists, catalogue publishers and has even
catered at fashion shows. She has really come “full
circle in the industry.”
Ms.
Dove admits that another source of inspiration is her “colorful
life.” She elaborates, “I have lots of interesting
people around, [interesting] places I’ve traveled
to…” Such places, other than her homeland, include
Europe, other parts of the Caribbean, and Africa, places
where she has gone for inspiration. The influence of Africa
and the Caribbean is particularly visible through the afrocentric
designs and fabrics used to create the “Donna Dove
look.”
Another characteristic element of the Donna Dove collection
is the incorporation of her painting in her fashion designs.
She incorporates illustration and fashion together predominantly
through hand-drawing her artwork onto the clothing, by sewing
the designs, and by silk-screening. She is able to incorporate
both the fine arts and fashion together because she believes
that there is no real distinction between the two. She advocates,
“Everything is fused together, everything is one to
create that Donna Dove look.”
 Furthermore,
she believes, or, rather, she understands how fashion is
an art in itself. She outlines how “certainly [fashion
design is art] because from putting the garment together,
you definitely have to have artistic ability because you’re
putting different shapes together out of nothing and putting
it into something- that what art is- creativity.”
Her
understanding and appreciation for art makes her a revolutionary
presence in the fashion world. She not only creates and
markets her artistic talent, she embodies the art in her
life. It is no surprise that she is able to extend her talents
into so many different marketable products, including everything
from clothing and lampshades to greeting cards. Again, she
balances such a plethora of mediums by embracing it all
under the foundation, art. She reaches back to her family
and homeland for inspiration and extends her talents by
reaching to its foundations as art. Back to the basics.
In her words, Ms. Dove details, “It’s all inside
of me-gushing to come out and express itself into so many
different mediums. And I embrace it all under one umbrella-
the Donna Dove collection.” Her collection is best
known for its very clean look and afrocentric focus, as
her fashion icons are “Willie Smith, a black designer
in the 70s, for the fact that he designed for black women,
and Calvin Klein, for his clean line.”
 However,
as an independent designer, women of color, and entrepreneur,
her innovativeness and creativity are often overlooked.
As an entrepreneur and independent designer, she has met
many financial challenges. Her greatest challenges, in the
beginning, were the great financial and personal sacrifices
needed to begin a business. Afterwards, challenges were
more so into creating items that sell and accumulating enough
money for her next collection. As an independent designer
in New York City, the fashion capital of the country, the
major challenge is the immense competition. “Too many
fishers in the same pond,” Ms. Dove says, describing
the great numbers of New York based designers vying for
the same market. The competition among Black designers in
particular is also a great challenge since it is focused
within the same market.
As
a black female designer in America, there are always challenges
in having her talents and endeavors recognized and “it’s
so much harder to bring [their] craft to the forefront.”
However, she advises that in order to sustain a business
in Harlem, amidst Harlem’s ever-changing commercial
scene, is to basically “get your product in the public’s
eye.” But as a fashion designer, she advises, “Be
very sure of what you want out of this career. Learn the
business aspect of the fashion world. Know how to market.
Be open minded to fashion and styling, and also be very
creative, and be as different as you can so your designs
stand out. And enjoy what you do.” Her innovative
style and her passion for her profession are some of the
many things that make her such a revolutionary designer.
Donna Dove has redefined the meaning of art in context of
the fashion world.
Ms.
Dove can be reached at 212 865-9332 or emailed at donna.dove@verizon.net
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