Trendsetter: Get to Know April Brown

Photograph courtesy of April Brown/Stephanie Ewens Photography

How did you get involved with the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading?

I wrote poetry a lot in high school. It was a way I processed my angst. I worked with Stages of Freedom, and we toured all the rec centers in Providence performing Langston Hughes poetry. My grandmother was a hairdresser and Langston Hughes was one of her clients in Harlem, so his life and mine were always intertwined.

What inspires you and fuels your creativity?

I mean, Langston Hughes is life, so he and Harlem always inspire me. What was so interesting about Harlem is that amid so much oppression, creativity couldn’t be stopped or silenced. When I think of Black life, I think of Harlem. When I think of dance and writing, I think of Harlem. We have built such a creative force in Providence and to try to find those parallels between Harlem and Providence is a spiritual practice, almost.

Where does your passion for clothing come from?

I’ve been interested in fashion since I was eleven or twelve. My favorite fashion magazine was Ebony, because I felt like I could find something for myself in it. I always liked to dress with intention and would never come out of the house looking any old way. You should want to feel good in yourself and how you appear because I realized early on that you are judged by how you’re dressed. I grew up observing put-together women, which reminded me that I’m a reflection of those women in the community. So when people see me, I’m not just representing me: I’m representing all those who came before me and who will come after me.

Where do you like to shop for clothing?

It’s hard when you’re a curvy woman to find something nice that isn’t a sack but is comfy and makes you feel beautiful. Being menopausal, it’s hard finding places to shop that aren’t Torrid. Most of the time, I’ll get items from friends when they travel to certain places. When you see me dressed up, I’m most likely wearing designs from La Linguere by Aita Carmichael. Her designs are so feminine and so exacting for a woman who has a figure. A lot of her stuff is clearly African inspired. As for local spots, I love the unique dresses at LOLA and I get my jewelry from Copacetic Jewelry. I also go to specific designers to create for me and my body type.

You sometimes henna your head. Can you tell me about that practice?

The first time I had it done (on my hands) was in Israel by a woman from Ethiopia. Now, one of my committee members does it. I’ve had my head bald for about twelve years and when I get the henna done there’s an elevation that happens in my spirit. It’s so spiritual. I love the practice.