Korto Momolu (1975–)

Korto (pronounced “cut-toe”) Momolu is an independent fashion designer and entrepreneur. Her designs feature bold colors, intricate patterns, and beading, and are inspired by her African roots. Working out of her studio in Little Rock (Pulaski County), Momolu designed the uniforms for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a line of handbags and jewelry for Dillard’s, and a jewelry line for the Smithsonian Museum stores. The City of Little Rock named November 13 Korto Momolu Day after she placed as first runner-up on the fifth season of the Bravo reality television show Project Runway in 2008.

Korto Clarice Momolu was born in Monrovia, Liberia, on February 2, 1975, the second of four children of Mary Momolu and Clarence K. Momolu Sr. Her father worked in a prominent government position, and her family was wealthy, including her large extended family, mainly made up of farmers. Her family moved to the United States when she was four years old. Both of her parents studied for their graduate degrees in Boston, Massachusetts, and then moved back to Liberia. Because of civil unrest and frequent teachers’ strikes, Momolu and her siblings were sent to boarding school in Canada when she was twelve; an aunt lived nearby. Her parents moved to join them in 1990, and the family lived there as refugees during the first Liberian War (1989–1997), during which the family lost nearly everything.

She graduated from high school at age sixteen. Because she was not a Canadian citizen, she could not get student loans for college. A friend of her mother from church paid her tuition after seeing her portfolio and sketchbook of designs. Momolu was accepted to Ryerson University and attended the school of design at L’Academies des Couturiers Design Institute in Ottawa, Ontario. She worked at a boutique where she would buy clothes, take them apart to see how they were made, then put them back together.

Momolu interned at Anne Klein and studied at Parson’s School of Fashion at the New School in New York City. There, she met Arkansas native Benny Briggs, who was on active military duty at that time. Momolu went to school in Atlanta for six months before the couple married and moved to Little Rock in 1999. Momolu and Briggs have two children together.

Momolu was unhappy in Arkansas at first because there was no fashion scene in Little Rock, but her husband encouraged her to start one. Momolu launched her first custom line while working as an independent fashion designer in 2006.

She was awarded the title of “fan favorite” (a $10,000 prize) when she was featured on the fifth season of Project Runway in 2008; she placed second, or first runner-up. New York Magazine highlighted Momolu as one of the “Top 5 Designers to Watch” at her debut season at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in the fall of 2008 in recognition of her SS09 collection at Bryant Park.

In late 2009, Momolu showed her SS10 collection at Los Angeles Fashion Week. It featured knee-length and full-length dresses in yellow, purple, and brown. In early 2010, she showed her FW10 collection at NYFW Union Square Ballroom. It included coats, sweaters, and a magenta gown. Also in early 2010, she launched her handbag and jewelry line with Dillard’s. In late 2010, she participated in Runway Africa in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In early 2011, she featured a line of eco-friendly jewelry called Green Love at NYFW. She partnered with Madera Exotic Woods and designed her Saba Collection, another line of eco-friendly jewelry.

Momolu returned for Project Runway All Stars Season 3 (2013–2014) and again placed second. In early 2013, Momolu’s FW13 line was her first ready-to-wear collection, made for women sizes 2–12. In early 2014, she unveiled her fall/winter collection called Urban Coup, which was military inspired. To complement her clothing line, she worked with ZAAF, a handbag artisan group from Ethiopia. That summer she participated in the Indiana Black Expo Fashion Show.

In late 2014, she put out her SS15 collection at NYFW at the Designer’s Loft, inspired by the birth of her son. In 2015, she and her husband renewed their vows and she put out her SS16 bridal collection, which was shown at Austin Fashion Week. In late 2017, Momolu teamed up with friend and fellow Project Runway designer Mychael Knight to release their new collections together, The MK|KM Experience, at NYFW at Stewart Hotel. Momolu’s SS18 collection was described as whimsical and floral with shades of mint and metallic shimmer, while Knight’s collection featured athleisure-wear. Later that same year, Momolu participated in NWA Fashion Week in Fayetteville (Washington County).

In a 2019 interview, Momolu said that she was working on clothing made from hemp purchased in Thailand but also liked to work with jute, cork, and linen. She was collaborating with Women Grow, “an organization focused on female leadership in the Cannabis industry.” Her cannabis clothing line Women Grow SS20 collection was made from sustainable fabrications such as hemp and cork but also featured sequins and metal plates. She encourages people to buy from small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

In late 2021, Momolu released her SS22 Freedom Collection, exclusively in the SoMa (South on Main) neighborhood in Little Rock. She returned to Project Runway for a third time to participate in its twentieth season, the All-Star Season (2023), but had a “rocky exit” on Episode 11 and stated that she would not return. In late 2023 at NYFW (her first year back since 2019), she released her SS24 Ink & Ivory collection in partnership with JOANN, her first menswear and gender-neutral collection.

Momolu has created pieces for Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston, Mary Steenburgen, Jill Scott, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Ashlie Atkinson, British singer Estelle, Miss Universe Leila Lopes, former president of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and more. She is credited with many acts of philanthropy and “shaping conversations about inclusivity in the fashion industry,” including body positivity.

For additional information:
“African Vibes Magazine Throws a Fashion Event With ‘Project Runway’s’ Korto Momolu.” Los Angeles Times, April 22, 2010. https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/all-the-rage/story/2010-04-22/african-vibes-magazine-throws-a-fashion-event-with-project-runways-korto-momolu (accessed July 5, 2024).

AMP Staff. “Black-Owned Business Spotlight: Korto Momolu.” Arkansas Money and Politics, February 13, 2023. https://armoneyandpolitics.com/black-owned-businesses-korto-momolu/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

Bobrow, Warren. “Nine Quick Questions: Project Runway Star Korto Momolu / Women Grow: NY Fashion Week.” Forbes Magazine, August 31, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/warrenbobrow/2019/08/30/nine-quick-questions-project-runway-star-korto-momoluwomen-grow-ny-fashion-week/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

Chilson, Brian. “Slideshow: Korto Momolu’s Freedom Collection Premieres in SoMa.” Arkansas Times, November 15, 2021. https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2021/11/15/slideshow-korto-momolus-freedom-collection-premieres-in-soma (accessed July 5, 2024).

Clancy, Sean. “Designer Korto Momolu Returns to ‘Project Runway.’” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 6, 2023, pp. 1E, 3E. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/06/little-rock-designer-korto-momolu-returns-to/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

———. “LR Chef, Designer in Spotlight.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 3, 2023, p. 1B. Online at https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/03/little-rock-fashion-designer-to-honor-late-father/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

Korto Momolu. https://kortomomolu.com/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

Marshall, Laurie. “Fashion in the Natural State: Korto Momolu.” Only in Arkansas, July 19, 2018. https://onlyinark.com/culture/korto-momolu/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

“Men & Women of Distinction: Korto Momolu.” PBS, January 30, 2017. https://www.pbs.org/video/men-women-distinction-korto-momolu/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

Scott, Rebekah Hall. “Designer Korto Momolu’s Cannabis Clothing Line.” Arkansas Times, October 1, 2019. Online at https://arktimes.com/entertainment/2019/10/01/designer-korto-momolus-cannabis-clothing-line (accessed July 5, 2024).

Williams, Helaine. “Korto Clarice Momolu-Briggs.” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, August 16, 2009. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/aug/16/korto-clarice-momolu-briggs-20090816/ (accessed July 5, 2024).

J. Jobe
CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas