Happy birthday to the one and only Paul Poiret, the couturier, artist, iconoclast, and host extraordinaire who surely deserves his place as the greatest figure in the pre-World War I fashion world. Poiret's impressive vision of lush fabrics, rich colors, and bold prints created maximalist and joyful looks that continue to inspire designers and fashion lovers today. Despite his enormous success, he was unable to hold onto his fame and fortune and died in poverty.
Read MoreWhile attending the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science during the early 1980s, I often frequented the Salvation Army thrift store in search of Harris Tweed jackets and thin neckties. I strove to play the part of an intelligentsia-minded glam rock dude who took his cues from Bryan Ferry while humming Joe Jackson’s “Look Sharp.” Take a journey with me into the history of neckties and their fabrics.
Read MoreZandra Rhodes, the daughter of a fitter for a Parisian fashion house, was born and raised in England. Her specialization was printed textile design while studying at the Royal College of Art in London. Traditional British manufacturers deemed her rule-breaking bold prints and colours to be unconventional. She opened a shop with her partner Sylvia Ayton, called Fulham Road Clothes and started making dresses from her own printed fabric designs.
Read MoreThe work of Suzie Zuzek (1920-2011) received some well-deserved attention this past year. A beautiful monograph, “Suzie Zuzek for Lilly Pulitzer: The Artist Behind an Iconic American Fashion Brand, 1962-1985”, a solo show at the Cooper Hewitt, and a stellar presentation by Susan Brown, Associate Curator of Textiles at the Cooper Hewitt and co-author of the book, all shed light on Suzie’s beautiful but little-known work.
Read MoreMerry Christmas! And Happy Birthday to Marion Dorn, a trail blazing print and graphics designer. She designed for many companies, creating textile designs, wall hangings, carpeting, rugs, wallpaper, graphics and more. She contributed to some of the best known interiors of the time including the Claridges, Berkeley of London, Savoy, the Orion and the Queen Mary. In the 1920s, she was dubbed “The Architect of Floors” in praise of her influential modern carpet designs. She raised the status of rugs with her modern designs; she is best known for her sculpted carpets and using batik techniques on rugs.
Read MoreHappy birthday to Josef Hoffmann, born on this date in 1870! Most known for his architecture, Hoffmann’s vast body of work includes furniture, glass, metalwork, porcelain, and textiles. Hoffmann’s main goal with his work was in unifying architecture with interior elements. He joined with Moser in 1903 to establish the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop).
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