History of the Clark School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design

The  Clarke School  of Dressmaking and Fashion Design (f. 1925) was a Cleveland, Ohio, educational institution developed for the instruction of needle arts and fashion primarily for young African American women. Founder Amanda Wicker (1900- 1987) was born in Sandersville, Georgia, and educated in Home Economics at the Tuskegee Institute. Upon graduation, she apprenticed in the dressmaking salon of Addie R. Clarke in Washington, D.C., then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband in 1924. Initially Wicker taught dressmaking in her home, but the classes quickly grew in size to warrant a school which she named after her former mentor. In 1939 the school began hosting annual fashion shows to raise money for scholarship funds. Soon after this the school was certified and the first graduation was held in 1946. Thirty-two years later, friends and former students of Wicker created the "Friends of Amanda Wicker" organization which raised funds to establish the Amanda Wicker Scholarship administered through the Cleveland Scholarship Program and first presented in 1980. Wicker retired and sold the school in 1979. At this time, it offered courses in drafting, tailoring, basic sewing, pattern making, couture dressmaking, and fashion design. Merchandising courses were anticipated by new owner Mattie Hemphill. The school was still in operation in 1990.