Willie Otey Kay

thumb|Willie Virginia Otey Kay in 1910 Willie Virginia Otey Kay (March 17, 1894 – September 25, 1992) was an African-American dressmaker. She was known for making wedding dresses and debutante gowns for almost sixty years, becoming one of the most sought-after designers for women's formalwear in North Carolina. Kay began her dressmaking business during the Jim Crow Era, catering to both black and white clientele. She dressed young women being presented to society at the all-white North Carolina Debutante Ball and the all-black Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball, often attending the balls as a guest. In 1935, McCall's did a story on Kay and her work. In 1951, one of Kay's debutante gowns was featured on the cover of Life. Her work was also featured in The News & Observer and, in 2016, the North Carolina Museum of History presented an exhibit on her life. Kay was the mother of civil rights activist June Kay Campbell and the grandmother of politicians Ralph Campbell Jr. and Bill Campbell. Quotes “I enjoy it. You have to like what you do, no matter what it is, to make a success of it.” Sometimes I surprise myself. I may not know exactly what I’m going to do when I start out, but ideas come as I go along.” It would take you forever to bead the laces to go on it.”. I have bleached the lace and it came out. I hope I understood you to say it would be alright to take it apart in motifs for that is the only way it would look alright with the other lace. I have trimmed the other lace and it has been beaded. Will be calling your daughter shortly of a fitting. Kay kept in touch with her clients during the dressmaking process. In this 1971 letter, she informs a debutante’s mother of her efforts to incorporate the family’s heirloom antique lace into a new gown. External link Category: living people Category:Women from the United States Category: Entrepreneurs