Pair of Mary Jane shoes designed by Scott Rankins
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1985
name: label: Created by
content: Scott Rankins, American, 1959 - 1999
notes: label: Caption
content: Scott Rankins (1959-1999) was an African American shoe designer originally from Portland, Oregon. He was one of the earliest modern African American shoe designers. Rankins demonstrated a love for art and creativity as a young child and his mother, Constance Cuie, nurtured this gift by enrolling him in an art school at an early age.
label: Caption
content: In 1980, Rankins left Portland and moved to New York to work as a design assistant for noted African American designer, Scott Barrie. After working with Barrie, Rankin was awarded a Fulbright Grant and moved to Italy to study at the Domos Academy. While in Italy, he entered and won the Diego Della Valle shoe design contest. By 1992, while still living in Italy, Rankins launched his self-titled shoe line which earned him national and international recognition.
label: Caption
content: Regarding his design style, Rankins intentionally created luxury shoes with heels no higher than two inches. His designs were elegant, thoughtful, and practical for women on the move. They were affectionally regarded as “wearable art.” Scott Rankins’ shoes have been worn by celebrity performers including: Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, and Angela Bassett.
label: Caption
content: Shortly after his return to the states from Bologna, Italy, Rankins was diagnosed with AIDS and passed away in 1999 in Melbourne, FL at the age of 40.
label: Description
content: A pair of dark grey Mary Jane style shoes designed by Scott Rankins. The shoes are composed of dark gray fabric-covered leather uppers and strap, leather soles, and synthetic sock linings and heel caps. They have two-inch heels, a square toe, and black leather trim at the vamp and strap. The Scott Rankin name and logo is imprinted on both the upper footbeds of the silver interiors and the bottoms. Manufacturing information and the size is printed on the side of each interior and imprinted on the bottom is a plate with [LEATHER / LEDER / CUIR] followed by “MADE / IN / SPAIN”, the shoe size [7 ½] and width [M].
place: label: Place made
content: Spain, Europe
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Fashion
label: Topic
content: Fashion design
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Fashion and Historical
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Nichols Family
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2024.18ab
objectType: label: Type
content: shoes (footwear)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: leather and synthetic fiber
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (a): 10 7/16 × 3 1/4 × 2 3/4 in. (26.5 × 8.2 × 7 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (b): 10 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 2 3/4 in. (26.7 × 8.2 × 7 cm)