08/27/2026
Revisiting the Joyful designs of Designer Patrick Kelly
Mississippi’s own Patrick Kelly was the first American and the first Black designer inducted into the prestigious Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter in Paris.
His designs are known for their use of bold colors, buttons, bows, and playful aesthetics which carried over directly to the visual presentation of the work. Though playful and fun, his work simultaneously centered themes of race, culture and southern heritage.
Having a love for Black cultural artifacts and an unusual affinity for racially controversial memorabilia, Kelly produced multiple garments that made a play on racist imagery and stereotypes. This was an effort to subvert the stereotypes and reclaim these images. This is an approach that we can still see today in fashion with brands like Denim Tears.
Though his career was cut short by his passing in 1990, Patrick Kelly was a force of fashion. He leaves a legacy of iconic design and unapologetic inclusivity, having paved a way for the fashion industry to be more accessible to many designers like him.