About The Art of Carving Out Space: People of Color in Historical Costuming
Historical costuming, living history reenactment, and cosplay are growing areas of interest that celebrate the beauty and artistry of fashions from past centuries and provide tangible ways to embody and learn how people experienced the world long ago. Yet, as a Black woman, historical costumer Gigi Coulson often finds herself to be the only person of color at costume events.
Why aren't there more people of color in historical costuming? This question opens up a larger conversation that challenges the erasure of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from the historical record and their lack of representation in classical art as well as popular depictions of history and their common inaccuracies.
Join us as historian Gigi Coulson discusses the intersection of historically marginalized people, dress history, and modern society while emphasizing the importance of community. As bell hooks stated, "Rarely... are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion."
Gigi Coulson is a sociologist, public historian, historical costumer, and independent researcher with a focus on European culture and clothing. She is the founder and executive director of Costumers of Color, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creating safe and welcoming multicultural spaces in historical costuming. Gigi travels extensively for Costumers of Color and organizes educational events and historical costuming trips to Europe. Scholarships are available to support inclusion and equity for the BIPOC community.