The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers presents the Alumni Achievement Award to alumni of the Scholastic Awards who’ve forged their own paths in their careers. From artists and writers to astronomers and filmmakers, Awards alumni have been leaders in their fields since the beginning of the Awards. During the Awards’ centennial year, we are proud to honor two extraordinary alumni: fashion designer Tracy Reese and author Joyce Carol Oates.
Tracy Reese is an American designer whose signature rich, daring colors, and unique prints are crafted into joyful, feminine clothing for modern women. Her design philosophy is rooted in a commitment to bringing out the beauty in women of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Tracy launched her namesake fashion brand in 1998 in New York City and over the past twenty-plus years, expanded to include sub-brands Plenty, Frock!, and Black Label, enjoying strong partnerships with Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie. In 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a custom Tracy Reese dress to address the DNC. Other notable fans of the brand include Sarah Jessica Parker, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Oprah Winfrey.
A member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America since 1990, Tracy serves on its Board of Directors. She also serves on the boards of NEST Artisan Guild and College for Creative Studies Fashion Accessories Design Program. Tracy is also an artist, as part of Turnaround Arts, a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Tracy continues to evolve and has pivoted her business strategy to a more sustainable, slow-fashion model. In 2019, she moved her design studio to her hometown, Detroit, plugging into the resurgence happening there while actively participating in plans to make Detroit a modern, sustainable garment production hub. She served as Board President of the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center, a Detroit-based, industry-shifting factory and institute anchored in human-centric manufacturing.
Tracy launched Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese (HFF), a responsibly designed and produced collection in Detroit. Part of HFF’s mission is to create positive social impact by empowering women and young people through free arts programming for Detroit’s youth and adults and collaboration with local artisans on HFF products. HFF is currently developing an apprenticeship program to train Detroiters to produce HFF designs, creating economic opportunities for women in underserved communities.
Tracy received her Scholastic Award in 1981 while a student at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI.