EDUCATION & BUSINESS
Look H : tweed 100% wool cowl dress
Dr. Farrell Doss is an industry professional, designer, and educator originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee. “Design has always been a part of my life […] I love being able to give someone their dream by creating a garment that makes them beautiful and confident. There is no greater reward than using one’s talents to enhance or unlock the power of dress for someone.” The wool dress on display was part of a juried exhibition sponsored by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. As a faculty member in the Department of Design at Radford University, creative scholarly work is an important professional outlet for Doss. This dress features a beautifully draped silhouette accentuated by a deep neckline cowl. Working as a custom designer, educator, and scholar, Dr. Doss is grateful to share his dream with many over the years. Doss explained, “I adore helping to prepare the next generation of design professionals.”
Look I: Blue dress suit
Ms. Ruby Douglas ’72, is a distinguished Cornell alumna, textile expert, and businesswoman who grew up in Danville, Virginia. Douglas knew early on in her childhood that fashion and textiles were an interest. “When I was in fifth grade,” she remembered, “I said I would like to learn how to sew. So, my mother gave me a sewing machine when I was in sixth grade and for a year. I made aprons. Then after I had my machine for a year, the second year at Christmas time, I made a jumper. My mother gave me fabric and a pattern to make a jumper with big pockets on it. And I sat down and I taught myself how to sew based on the instructions that came in a home sewing pattern.” Douglas pursued her sewing further into high school. “By the time I was in junior high I was making clothes. I believe one summer it was between junior high and high school I made clothes for one of my teachers. That became my summer job making clothing for people.” Douglas has always been a diligent academic achiever throughout high school and college. Douglas remembered, “I graduated at the top of my class, but I took home economics. So, I recieved a full scholarship to Human Ecology. When I got to Human Ecology I majored in textiles and clothing. When I started the school, it was called Home Economics and by the time I graduated, I think the next year it was called Human Ecology.” Douglas went on to become an exemplary student at Cornell, completing her Bachelors in 1972, and her Masters in 1974. “I did my graduate work at Cornell. I developed a curriculum-based on business and marketing. At the time, consumer economics was important. I took courses at the business school and I ended up doing my thesis research with home sewing patterns selection. Looking back now and knowing where I am now. It’s like it all comes together because I went to New York and I work for a fibers marketing company.” During her time at Cornell, Douglas embodied what it meant to be an outstanding student to the College of Human Ecology.
In 1989 Douglas was the recipient of the Helen Bull Vandervort Alumni Achievement Award. The award is one of the highest honors presented to alumni of the College of Human Ecology “who have attained outstanding success and distinction in their chosen profession or life’s work, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on, or bring honor to, the College.” Douglas’ awards and achievement at Cornell are evidence of her academic integrity and passion for advancing her own knowledge and the lives of others. After her time at Cornell, Douglas took her expertise into the textile industry in New York City. “I sold fiber, I eventually sold fabric and that’s what I did in New York. During all of this time I parlayed my knowledge as a designer to become a successful salesperson to designers and architects […] all the while I continue to sew and to perfect my sewing skills.”
Look J: Chambers Coat
Undra Duncan, the founder and creative designer for Undra Celeste New York, is a fashion industry professional focusing on contemporary womenswear designs. With over a decade of experience in design, product development, and fashion entrepreneurship, Undra Celeste New York aims to redefine workwear for the modern woman. A graduate from Howard University, Duncan has since launched her career working in fashion. “I went to Howard University in Washington D.C. and I studied International business,” said Duncan. “After college I moved to LA for a short while. Less than two years and I actually was not working in fashion I decided to take that time to work in business.” After her time in Los Angeles, Duncan moved back to New York, “I moved back to Brooklyn, where I am actually born and raised, to pursue a career in fashion. I spent about 10 years working in product development for some really awesome brands and the industry and in 2010 I kind of made a solid decision that I wanted to be a designer an entrepreneur and that’s pretty much how it started.” After her move to New York, Duncan began to focus on her brand. “I am most inspired by the women,” she said. “Like, I think about her and think about how she wants to show up. And I think about how she moves in the world and try to let that be the first thing that starts every collection.” Undra Celeste New York focuses on redefining modern workwear for women, giving women the chance to take control of their professional attire. Duncan stressed the importance of her target customer “Women spend a significant amount of time at work. And how you show (yourself) at work it can make a difference on how you feel at work and how you present yourself to others. So, having a workwear brand is just so important, because you outfit a woman, for not necessarily the most important hours of her day, but for the most significant, in terms of how she shows up to the world.” Throughout her career, Duncan has made strides in the industry.
For example, she worked with Nike in 2018 to create a shoe for Lebron James. “The project started because of Lebron and his adoration and his praise for his mom. And you know of course he is like this mega superstar, this mega athlete, but those sentiments ring through Black households everywhere all over the world. And that to me was really beautiful that the world got to see it on that platform and that I was a part of,” said Duncan […] The collaboration with Lebron James, HFR (Harlem Fashion Row) and Nike, like that was something I’m so proud of. I’m so proud of the relationships I formed with those young ladies that I worked with. I’m so proud of the message that the collaboration put out in the world about collaboration over competition. About the strength of the woman of color, about the strength of the people of color, about the strength of just the everyday women and the things that we do.”