Jackie o's brooklyn style: how a nonprofit revitalized a community through textiles

House Beautiful revisits a fascinating chapter in design history this year, exploring its archives for stories that resonate today. One tale stands out: how First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis championed a Brooklyn-based initiative that not only beautified her own home but also fueled community revitalization.

A legacy woven in brooklyn

The story begins in 1964, when Robert F. Kennedy, then a U.S. Senator, recognized the need for renewal in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a predominantly Black neighborhood in Brooklyn struggling with poverty and social unrest. Following the 1964 police shooting of a young Black man, Kennedy co-founded the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, aiming to empower residents and foster pride.

Enter Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate and Jackie Kennedy's husband. She saw an opportunity to leverage the artistic talent within the community. This led to the creation of Design Works of Bedford-Stuyvesant, a nonprofit that provided a platform for local artists to create textiles.

The designs, characterized by bold African-inspired motifs – think vibrant banana leaves and abstract fish scales – quickly gained traction. Heavy cotton duck, sheer synthetics, and vinyl-coated materials were produced, distributed nationwide by Connaissance Fabrics. The Onassis couple embraced the fabrics, using them to add striking accents to their New York apartment.

In the library, a comfortable space for Caroline and John Jr., a