Man's Great Coat c. 1937

Frederick Jackson created "Man's Great Coat" with watercolor and graphite on paper. Jackson, an African American designer, made this work at a time when Black people were often excluded from the fashion industry. The coat depicted carries signs of class and status through its fine details. Yet, this drawing also subtly challenges racial representation by suggesting Black individuals can shape fashion. Jackson's professional life itself speaks to this. Consider the emotional resonance of clothing and identity. This image invites us to ponder how clothing can be a means of both conforming to and subverting social norms. Jackson's work reflects and reframes societal issues around race and identity, contributing to a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of fashion history.