Silk Allen, Author at The Land

Silk Allen

Silk Allen is a storyteller and personal stylist based in Cleveland whose influences range from fashion and history to the words of Iceberg Slim and Lil Kim. Silk received a degree in journalism from Central State University and an associate degree in fashion merchandising from Virginia Marti College. She has written for local publications BFly Magazine, The Plain Dealer, and The Plain Press, and she currently freelances for Destination Cleveland. Silk is always looking for creative ways to combine her passions for writing, fashion, and hip hop.

Cleveland Crown Convention celebrates passing of the CROWN Act

By Silk Allen ● Social Equity ● December 1, 2025

“It feels good to be welcomed into a place where my hair is celebrated, complimented, and I can show off my creativity.”

Black Children’s Book Fair draws a crowd at ThirdSpace in Glenville

By Silk Allen ● Arts & Culture ● March 10, 2025

“Black Children’s Book Week is a whole movement.”

‘Black Barbie’ screening highlights importance of representation, identity in imaginative play

By Silk Allen ● Arts & Culture ● November 25, 2024

As part of the Cleveland History Center’s newest exhibit, “All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures,” a private screening of the Netflix documentary “Black Barbie” was held for collectors and doll enthusiasts.

African American Quilt & Doll Show showcases oral and textile history

By Silk Allen ● Arts & Culture ● June 21, 2024

There is a backstory and cultural connection behind African American cloth dolls. Silk Allen learned all about it at a recent event.

Shavonne Jordan of Hands of God by Von provides customized wigs and cranial prostheses

Healing through beauty – how a Cleveland stylist gives back

By Silk Allen ● Entrepreneurs ● April 1, 2024

Master braider and cranial prosthesis specialist Shavonne Jordan wants all of her clients to look and feel good about themselves. Especially the ones dealing with cancer, alopecia and other medical hair loss-related issues – so she learned how to customize medical-grade wigs.

Cleveland artist Jasmine Golphin is forging her own path, helping other ‘outsider’ artists

By Silk Allen ● Arts & Culture ● October 3, 2023

Golphin, the associate artistic director at Maelstrom Collaborative Arts, experiments with video, photography, VR, and performance in her own artistic career.