Black fashion designers matter: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of Black female fashion design entrepreneurs

dc.contributor.advisor Eulanda A. Sanders
dc.contributor.author Kennedy Benson, Samii
dc.contributor.department Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management
dc.date 2018-08-11T12:52:01.000
dc.date.accessioned 2020-06-30T03:09:05Z
dc.date.available 2020-06-30T03:09:05Z
dc.date.copyright Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2017
dc.date.embargo 2001-01-01
dc.date.issued 2017-01-01
dc.description.abstract <p>The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of Black female fashion design entrepreneurs by examining how they launched, financed and successfully maintained their businesses. Fifteen female fashion designers, ages 25 to 50 years old, who identified as Black or African American, participated in this study. The participants also met three out of the following criteria: (a) have completed a fashion design certificate or degree program, (b) design and produce a line at least twice a year, (c) participate in at least two fashion shows a year, (d) rely on their fashion design business as their primary source of income and/or (e) have been in business for at least five years.</p> <p>Through in-depth interviews the researcher inquired into the characteristics, personality traits, background, education and life experiences of Black female fashion design entrepreneurs; the barriers and challenges they face in regards to their race, class, gender, geographic location and other factors; their motivational factors for starting and maintaining a business; how they define and measure success; as well as an identification of resources and educational opportunities that they benefit from. To better understand the lived experiences of Black female fashion design entrepreneurs, the researcher utilized Black feminist thought as the main theoretical position for this research. In addition, other theoretical concepts including, intersectionality, the integration perspective, the social stratification and entrepreneurship framework, disadvantage theory and protected market theory were found to be applicable to this study.</p> <p>Utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) as the initial method of inquiry, 16 major themes emerged from the data: (a) family influence, (b) circle of support, (c) community influence, (d) school environment, (e) culture of fashion, (f) travel experience, (g) knowledge seeker, (h) sharing knowledge, (i) knowledge of self, (j) entrepreneurial mindset, (k) business challenges, (l) facing adversity, (m) growth factors, (n) business strategies, (o) success factors and (p) giving back. The interrelationship of the themes presented resulted in the development of a conceptual model of Black female fashion design entrepreneurs’ experiences. The model displays six phases of events experienced by the Black female fashion design entrepreneurs: (a) nurturing environment; (b) acquiring knowledge; (c) building a foundation; (d) experiencing growth; (e) achieving success; and (f) giving back. The experiences of the Black fashion design entrepreneur are reinforced by her circle of support – the network of people who surround her, acting as a “community” to encourage and support her in accomplishing her business related goals. Throughout the Black fashion design entrepreneurs’ experiences she also takes on the role of knowledge seeker, as she continuously seeks and gains knowledge relevant to the pursuit of her entrepreneurial goals.</p> <p>This study is the first of its kind concerning Black female fashion designers and their experiences of entrepreneurship thus, it significantly contributes to academic scholarship in the interdisciplinary fields of apparel, merchandising, and design, Black studies, women and gender studies and entrepreneurship. The findings of this research can be useful to fashion design and apparel educators and small business consultants who may provide assistance to nascent Black female fashion design entrepreneurs. This information will also inform key fashion leaders in regards to ways of improving the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. Most of all, this research will serve as a source of positive reinforcement for Black women who are in search of examples of successful role models as they pursue their entrepreneurial endeavors.</p>
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.identifier archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/16154/
dc.identifier.articleid 7161
dc.identifier.contextkey 11457004
dc.identifier.doi https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-5783
dc.identifier.s3bucket isulib-bepress-aws-west
dc.identifier.submissionpath etd/16154
dc.identifier.uri https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/30337
dc.language.iso en
dc.source.bitstream archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/16154/KennedyBenson_iastate_0097E_16931.pdf|||Fri Jan 14 20:55:50 UTC 2022
dc.subject.disciplines African American Studies
dc.subject.disciplines American Material Culture
dc.subject.disciplines Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
dc.subject.disciplines Fashion Design
dc.subject.keywords Black Fashion Designers
dc.subject.keywords Black Female Entrepreneurs
dc.subject.keywords Black Feminist Thought
dc.subject.keywords Entrepreneurship
dc.subject.keywords Fashion Industry
dc.subject.keywords Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
dc.title Black fashion designers matter: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of Black female fashion design entrepreneurs
dc.type article
dc.type.genre dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 5960a20b-38e3-465c-a204-b47fdce6f6f2
thesis.degree.discipline Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
thesis.degree.level dissertation
thesis.degree.name Doctor of Philosophy
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