Founded by Andrea Aranow in the East Village of New York City, Dakota Transit was a custom clothing store that burst onto the fashion scene in 1968. The store became known for its innovative use of materials such as suede, leather, and snakeskin, and its custom-made pieces often featured bold, vibrant colors and psychedelic designs.

The store quickly gained popularity and became a hotspot for the New York City music and fashion scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Dakota Transit was featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times, and The Village Voice, among other publications. Aranow’s designs caught the attention of high-profile musicians, socialites, and celebrities, including Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, who became regular customers and commissioned several pieces from the store. Dakota Transit left a lasting impact on the fashion world, symbolizing rebellious spirit of the era.

The Dakota Transit Collection includes a wide range of items such as garments, accessories, sketches, patterns, photo prints, slides, news and magazine clippings, and advertisements. While not all of the created garments are physically represented due to their custom nature, a forthcoming photo archive will offer a comprehensive survey of Andrea’s Dakota Transit creations.