Scott Barrie whose real name was Nelson Clyde Barr was born in Philadelphia in January 1946. As a kid, Barrie knew he wanted to be a designer. He started making his own clothing using his grandmothers sewing machine at the age of 10.
Barrie studied Applied Arts at the Philadelphia Museum College and Art and Fashion Design at the Mayer School of Fashion where he graduated in 1965. As a way of supporting himself, he starting cutting and sewing jersey dresses in his apartment to sell, while working different jobs on Seventh Avenue.
Barrie’s mother was not very encouraging about his career choice in fashion,”Blacks don’t make it there,” his mother would warn, but he quickly proved her wrong.
Scott worked his way to be a costume designer for television networks, known for Ganja & Hess (1973) and The Mike Douglas Show (1961).
In 1968, Barrie opened his own showroom after selling some of his designs to Bloomingdale’s and Henri Bendel.
After five years in Milan, working for Krizia, the Italian high-fashion house, he is now doing a collection of sportswear, knits and leather clothes under his own name.
Excerpt of article published in the NEW YORK TIMES November 1989 written by Anne Marie Schiro:
[He has not totally abandoned matte jersey, but he is also making tailored jackets with soft touches like embroidery, lace, tassels or delicate fringe. Some jackets are wrapped in back so patches of skin show through. He has used sheer stretch fabric to make tiered skirts of tiny ruffles and has cut suede into soft shapes with cascading fronts.
”Designing in Milan has been an exciting experience,” Mr. Barrie said on a recent trip to New York to show his spring line. ”There are so many resources at my fingertips. Now I have the opportunity to design a complete collection. It’s a brand-new horizon.” – SCOTT BARRIE 1989 NY TIMES
He is designing for a Japanese company called Kinshido, which is selling the clothes in its Milan D’Or boutiques in New York and Japan and wholesaling to stores in this country and Europe. His fall collection is now in the Milan D’Or boutique at 910 Madison Avenue, at 73d Street.
”They’re opening a boutique under my name in Japan next spring,” he said, ”and if that’s successful, they’ll open more.”
Along with a few other black designers, Barrie was one of the first black designers to make his mark in American fashion. He proved himself to be a master at draping jersey and chiffon in modern ways creating elegant and often risqué evening wear.
Barrie’s designs consisted of a range of loungewear, furs, and accessories, he was also involved in costume design.] – Anne Marie Schiro NY TIMES November 1989
In the early 1990’s Barrie stopped designing under his own name, taking a position with the dress firm S.E.L. as a designer. In the later years Barrie went on to design for the Italian design house Krizia and for the Japanese firm Kinshido until his death in 1993.
