Hold Up, There’s More! An Important Follow Up to Yesterday’s Interview with MCB

The following is a follow up to yesterday’s interview with The MCB Project’s founder Maya-Camille Broussard.

When I learned that The MCB Shop’s line of fall turbans was partially inspired by the Tignon Law, I was immediately intrigued. The collection simply reminded me of the head-wraps made popular by singer Erykah Badu and stylist June Ambrose. Any historical significance I attributed to some vague idea of African influence.

If you too are unfamiliar with the Tignon Law, get a brief summary here. With the law, Louisiana forced women of color to wear tignons, or head-coverings, with the idea that this would make them less attractive to white men.

For Maya to pull her inspiration from such an ugly past, I wondered if she feels as if she’s now contributing to the redefinition of a possibly negative symbol into one of beauty and independence. Here’s what the designer had to say:

“I believe that I am celebrating an accessory that was originally meant to be a degrading and dehumanizing stronghold for segregating the Whites from the free Blacks of Color. I also believe that the meaning behind the tignons were long redefined before I created my own version of the turbans. You can find vintage photos of Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou in the 60s , Erykah Badu and Jill Scott in the mid-90s, and now Solange, Chrisette Michele and even Swizz Beats donning turbans. In 2009, turbans took the runways of New York by storm when it was “introduced” by designers such as Jason Wu and Miuccia Prada. Then, suddenly it became high fashion. Designing and wearing turbans, for me, is simply continuing our relationship with the talents provided by our ancestors and the African Diaspora as a whole.

“…”introduced” by designers such as Jason Wu and Miuccia Prada. Then, suddenly it became high fashion.”

I decided to take something I love, that was inspired by the paintings of women wearing tignons, and improve upon it. My turbans require no twisting or tying- you just simply slip it on. Additionally, all of the turbans are lined in satin- which protect the hair from breakage.”

Shop The MCB Shop’s line of turbans and tees at www.TheMCBShop.com.