30 Facts About Willi Smith

Willi Donnell Smith was an American fashion designer.

At the time of his death, Smith was regarded as one of the most successful African-American designers in the fashion industry.

The accessibility and affordability of Willi Smith's clothing helped to democratize fashion.

Willi Smith's grandmother was the housekeeper for a family that was close with designer Arnold Scaasi, and she helped her grandson get an internship with Scaasi.

Willi Smith helped with the design of clothing for Elizabeth Taylor.

Willi Smith studied commercial art at Mastbaum Technical High School and attended Philadelphia Museum College of Art, taking a course in fashion illustration.

Willi Smith then moved to New York City to go to Parsons The New School for Design, the art and design college of The New School.

Willi Smith received two scholarships to fund his studies at Parsons.

In 1965, Willi Smith interned for couturier Arnold Scaasi, and began studying fashion design at Parsons in the fall while taking liberal arts classes at New York University.

In 1967, Willi Smith left Parsons and pursued a career designing on his own.

Willi Smith first sought design inspiration from what people wore on the streets of New York.

Willi Smith befriended model Bethann Hardison in 1967 after striking up a conversation about her style on the street.

From 1969 to 1973, Willi Smith worked as lead designer for the junior sportswear label Digits.

Willi Smith met future business partner and lifelong friend Laurie Mallet in 1970 while Mallet was in New York for a holiday break and hired her as his design assistant at Digits in 1971.

In 1973, Willi Smith was nominated for the Coty American Fashion Critics' Winnie Award for the second time, and began designing patterns for the commercial pattern company Butterick.

Willi Smith resigned from Digits later that same year and Digits went bankrupt shortly after.

Willi Smith continued to design and, in 1976, traveled to Bombay India with Mallet to produce a small collection of women's separates in natural fibers.

In 1982, Smith produced the first WilliWear men's collection with Stuart Lazar as Executive Vice President of menswear.

Willi Smith was an avid patron of the arts and collaborated with an extensive group of artists from 1973 up until his death in 1987.

Willi Smith designed costumes for choreographer Dianne McIntyre's productions The Lost Sun, The Deep South Suite, and Take-Off From a Forced Landing.

In 1985, Willi Smith worked with Max Vadukul to direct the short film Expedition, which was shot in Senegal and showcased ensembles inspired by Senegalese street fashion.

Willi Smith showcased his designs through film in Made in New York and Expedition, as well as for film in Spike Lee's School Daze, creating the homecoming court costumes.

Willi Smith designed the uniforms for the workers on Jeanne-Claude and Christo's 1983 installation Surrounded Islands as well as for Pont Neuf Wrapped in Paris, France.

Willi Smith died of pneumonia complicated by shigellosis the following day at the age of 39.

Willi Smith was apparently unaware that he had contracted the virus and had shown no symptoms.

Willi Smith, who was openly gay, has a panel in the original NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Willi Smith is lamented in a poem "Speak: A Poem for the Millennium March", by Keith Boykin, read by its author for the Millennium March on Washington for Equality on April 29,2000.

Willi Smith sought not to target an exclusive clientele with his work, but instead to ensure that his clothing could be worn by people from varied backgrounds.

In 1981, Willi Smith participated in the Black Fashion Museum's Bridal Gowns of Black Designers exhibition.

The collaborative and accessible nature of Willi Smith's work was highlighted through the exhibition and will be incorporated to a greater extent through the Willi Smith Digital Community Archive, which the public can contribute to.