What’s Happening in Howe’s Hometown?

Profile: Bria Johnson, Costume Designer for “The Ground on Which We Stand”

Bria Renee Johnson, a fashion designer with her own “slow fashion” brand, had a show as part of New York Fashion Week in 2018, the year she graduated from Montclair High School.

 Five years later, Bria is at Luna Stage as a Costume Designer, where she most recently worked on “The Ground on Which We Stand,” a multi-author, multi-site play that explores the history and impact of the James Howe House from 1780 to the present.

 Friends of the Howe House connected with Bria to learn more.

Where did you grow up? 

 I was raised in Montclair NJ. I went to Watchung, Mt. Hebron and Montclair High School.

 When you were growing up, were you aware of the Howe House? 

 I was not aware of the Howe House, but I was aware of the Crane House because we went on a field trip there during middle school.

 When you heard about James Howe what did you think? 

 It was interesting to learn about the first black man to own property in Montclair.  I enjoyed listening to this history told through the monologues.

 Were you aware that there was slavery in New Jersey? 

 Yes, I was aware that slavery happened in New Jersey. But what surprised me when doing research for this show was the problem of discrimination in Montclair and New Jersey and how much it has affected people.

 In terms of costumes and design, how did you do your research? 

When it comes to costume design, I like to read the script first. From there I start with what's most historically accurate in terms of what they were wearing during this time in history. However, I also love to play with color theory and emotion. Emotion is what really drives any film/play production/performance, so playing with how I can express the different emotions through the colors I choose, and the silhouettes of each character's garment is part of my process. Adding little details such as hats, jewelry, glasses, watches are also important keys in tying in the final look of the wardrobe as well.

How did you make decisions about designing for James and Susan Howe? 

 For James and Susan Howe, I wanted to keep them in warmer colors, as was common in that period. I also designed their wardrobes to be accurate based on research I did on the lives of freed African Americans in the north during this time. Understanding location, climate, characters’ daily tasks, what they do for a living, and other aspects of their everyday life are all important details that help me decide how to costume someone correctly. 

Do you feel a sense of hope and pride about the Howe House? 

 Yes! Now that I know the story of the Howe House, I am excited to see what comes next. I would love to continue to be involved and contribute any way I can.

About Bria Johnson:

 After graduating from Montclair High School in 2018, Bria attended Savannah College of Art & Design in Atlanta, graduating in June 2022. Before working on “The Ground on Which We Stand,” Bria worked as an assistant costume designer and wardrobe supervisor for the Luna Stage production of "Torn Asunder."

 In addition, she has worked on numerous independent short film projects in the New York Tri-state area. Bria is building her own “slow fashion” brand and has her own DIY fashion-related YouTube channel, which launched more than 10 years ago. You can reach her on IG and also on LinkedIn. Bria is open to work and available for different types of projects.