Rosemary Reed Miller opened “Toast and Strawberries” a gift and clothing store, in the Dupont Circle area of Washington D.C.. The store opened in 1966 on ‘R’ Street at Connecticut Ave., NW. At that time the Dupont Circle area was considered a part of the city that most blacks didn’t frequent unless it was for work.
In a 2007 interview with BlackAmericaWeb.com, Reed said it was difficult getting her boutique. She said many barriers were thrown her way, in a effort to keep her from not getting the store.
Once the store opened Reed visitors were not customers, but people who were interested in seeing the store.
” Toast and Strawberries” stayed at it’s location on Conneticut Ave., S.W. until 1995. It was at that time “Toast and Strawberries,” moved around the corner. This store became a landmark in Washington D.C.
In addition to owning a successful clothing store, Reed also became an author. She wrote the book Threads of Time, The Fabric of History. The book focuses on the history of designers from 1860’s to the present.
This is just a short snippet of this Reed’s resume. Google her name and find out more.
This has been your Black Fashion History Report.
