The granddaughter of a tailor, Jae learned sewing and fine hand work early from family members who were influenced by him. She has been a fashion designer for 50 years, designing for her own shops: Jae of Hyde Park ( One-of -a Kind Women's Boutique), Male Bag ( Men's Wear) an Tadpole Togs ( Shop for Toddlers). Jae studied at Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio, The School of the
Art Institute of Chicago, in Chicago,IL, and earned her BFA from Howard University, in Washington, D.C. She did graduate work with a focus on Textile design at Howard University, in Washington, D.C., Parsons School of Design in New York, N.Y., and observed the mass production operations of weaving at Burlington Mills in Burlington, NC, as well as, screen printing at textile design studios in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Key West, Florida. Continuing her work as a fashion designer, she taught design and construction for fashion at the Woodlawn Experimental Schools Project, in Chicago, IL. On moving to Athens, Georgia, Jae also launched Tadpole Toys Industries (educational hand made wooden toys for toddlers) with her husband, Wadsworth Jarrell. She went on to teach visual art to middle school students at Athens Academy, in Athens, GA, while simultaneously opening Tadpole Toys & Hobby Center. Eventually Jae moved to Atlanta, GA, to teach Visual art to elementary school students at The Lovett School. Jae opened the Say Cheese Bakery with her husband while teaching at the Lovett School. When her two daughters were in college, Jae retired from teaching at Lovett to focus on the bakery and design. Jae has earned many accolades over the years. Among them, an article written about her 1963 debut (Elaine Johnson's Fashion Safari) in the Chicago Defender. Etta Moten Barnett, singer, actress, and American representative in cultural missions to Africa, was invited to speak on the relationship of Jae's garments to varied African cultures. A representative for Ebony Fashion Fair then invited Elaine to show her portfolio to Mrs. The 1963 Ebony Fashion Fair commissioned her to create an evening gown for the sponsor Lady Sunbeam Hair Dryers. The September 1963 issue of Jet magazine sited Elaine's participation In The Ebony Fashion Fair. In 1967 Jae of Hyde Park, a women's boutique, was written up in the Chicago Daily News. Other highlights are her participation in the art group AFRICOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists) as a founding member . During the AFRICOBRA 1 show at the Studio Museum of Harlem in 1971, Jae's work was pointed out in an article for New York Magazine. Jae's Revolutionary Suit, was also published in Black World and Jet magazines. As a result of her work in the AFRICOBRA group, Jae was chosen as a committee member, and elected to be the director of the fashion show for the Creative Modern Black and African Dressing Committee at the famous second international Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 1977). After FESTAC Jae's designs were featured in the 1978 winter edition of the Magazine BLACK ART, An International Quarterly, edited by Samella Lewis. Jae's interest in men's apparel began with the Male Bag in 1967. with this line she began to design sophisticated suits and separates for her clients. After having her son, who was her first born, Jae set her sites on apparel for toddlers. Noticing that there was a shortage of stylish, well made attire for boys, Jae focused her Tadpole Togs line on boys' apparel. Tadpole Togs shop was opened in 1970 and began to address the need of having good dress for children. Excitement about men's apparel was re-ignited in the early 1990's . At this time Jae began to look to vintage and a new industry for Jae was born. For 20 years Jae Jarrell has developed a clientele selling her savvy selections suited for the taste of dapper gents. Jae began Her line for gents at the sidewalk flea markets in Manhattan, And soon moved to a posh shop in Tribeca, Jae Jarrell Vintage. Critical acclaim was received by Jae Jarrell Vintage in The New Yorker magazine In New York, and The Downtown Express, as well as international publications from London, Japan, and Paris. Customers from these countries abroad regularly walked in holding the magazine article about Jae from their country, excited to shop in this men's vintage specialty store. Customers range from the man with discerning taste and a flair for a classic look, to the stylist, wardrobe and costume designer who needs period perfect apparel for a production. More recently, Jae has entered prominent national vintage dealers' shows. The Jae Jarrell Gents Vintage website which began in 2006, has also helped Jae continue to reach out to customers both nationally and internationally. Fem Chic -Select Jewels of fashion is Jae's newest line, offering the well dressed woman stunning accessories and outer wear to compliment her impeccable style. Jae has exhibited nationally and internationally, throughout her career. Some select exhibitions in which Jae has participated are: Ebony Fashion Fair, 2ND World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 1977) in Lagos, Nigeria; exhibitions in Cortona and Rome, Italy; Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.; The Studio Museum of Harlem, New York, NY; The Shrine of the Black Madonna, Atlanta, GA; Upstairs Gallery, Tryon, NC; Howard University Art Gallery, Washington, D.C.; Langston Hughes Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Buffalo, NY; Black Arts Festival Fashion Show, Atlanta, GA; Faculty Art Exhibits, The Lovett School, Atlanta, GA; Malcolm X College, Chicago, IL; National Center for Afro-American Artists, Boston, MA; Black Expo, Chicago, IL; The National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA; Containers Fashion Exhibit, Chastain Park, Atlanta, GA; Haiti Gallery, Rochester, NY; Everson Gallery, Syracuse, NY; WJ Studios and Gallery, Chicago, IL; and University Art Gallery, Amherst, MA. Jae's selected One Person Shows are: WJ Studios and Gallery, Chicago, IL; Jae of Hyde Park ( eight seasonal collections), Chicago, IL; and Fashion Safari (Elaine Johnson's fashion debut) Chicago, IL. Commissions that Jae has received are: original design commissioned by the Sunbeam Corporation for the Ebony Fashion Fair and accessory designs published in Harper's Bazaar. Here are some select reviews of Jae's work :
(from Elaine Johnson's Fashion Safari Debut)
"Wild colors, skillful draping and intricate cutting" - Chicago Defender
"Jae's use of design elements of African origin is a unique approach to contemporary fashion" - Etta Moten Barnett in the Chicago Defender
( from the AFRICOBRA 1 Show at the Studio Museum Of Harlem)
"Particularly arresting, the series of garments designed by Jae Jarrell. Jarrell uses her cloth surface as picture planes - paints or appliques images of urban America." - New York Magazine
(from a review of Jae of Hyde Park)
"A Keen eye for combining unusual textures and color" - Chicago Daily News
(from Jae Jarrell Vintage Menswear and Collectibles of Tribeca)
"...the point of thrifting...to go fishing for an elusive desire or memory..." -Judith Thurman, The New Yorker
"A handsome nod to 1940's vintage menswear." - IN new york
"She has kept her eye on vintage shops everywhere and decided to target her tastes toward men because she felt they were neglected." - downtown express, NY
(from Jae Jarrell Gents' Vintage booth at vintage shows)
"John Dunn (Costume Designer for "Boardwalk Empire") and I did a great deal of research to make sure we got the correct silhouette for 1920... We have a myriad of...vendors that are all equally important because they bring the detail pieces that are so important to finalizing the complete look of each costume. Among them...Jae Jarrell..." ~Lisa Padovani, Assistant Costume Designer for "Boardwalk Empire" - ("The Costume Hunter" Article in October, 2010 Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show Catalogue.)
