Rediscovering Khadejha McCall: The Forgotten Fashion Icon of the 1960s

During the 1960s, Khadejha McCall emerged as a prominent figure in the fashion world. Her clientele included celebrated artists like singer and pianist Nina Simone, and she mingled with notable personalities such as drummer and bandleader Art Blakey. Her boutique, Khadejha Designs, located at 5 St. Marks Place in Manhattan’s East Village, attracted attention from cultural icons, including the influential artist Andy Warhol.

Known for crafting garments that featured contemporary silhouettes and vibrant fabrics influenced by African kanga textiles, McCall’s designs were considered groundbreaking. Writer Ada Calhoun, who interviewed McCall for her 2015 book, described her store and clothing line as being at the forefront of fashion innovation.

Calhoun emphasized that McCall’s creations represented a fresh wave in fashion, emerging from grassroots creativity rather than established fashion houses. This bottom-up approach brought new styles and fabrics into the spotlight during a transformative era.

Although Khadejha Designs shuttered in the late 1960s when McCall relocated to Canada, where she later devoted herself to art and education, traces of her fashion legacy remain. Among these are artifacts stored in a rented unit in Mableton, Georgia, preserving the tangible history of her influential career.

Malik McCall, her son and an Atlanta-based teacher and actor, expressed amazement while sorting through the collection, highlighting the extensive archive of his mother’s work and its significance.