Fashion Group International records

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id: 1965
origination: Fashion Group International
date statement: c.1930-1997 [bulk 1940-1970s]
key date: 1930
identifier (local_mss): 980
org unit: Manuscripts and Archives Division
call number: MssCol 980
b-number: b14981997
total components: 1958
total series: 16
max depth: 5
boost queries: (none)
component layout: Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields: false
Extended Navigation: false
created: 2013-04-01 15:04:20 UTC
updated: 2026-01-20 20:45:44 UTC
status note: (missing)
Display Aeon link: true

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unitid: {"value"=>"980", "type"=>"local_mss"}

{"value"=>"MssCol 980", "type"=>"local_call"}
unitdate: {"value"=>"c.1930-1997", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1930/1997"}

{"value"=>"1940-1970s", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1940/1979"}
date_inclusive_start: 1930
date_inclusive_end: 1997
keydate: 1930
date_start: 1930
date_end: 1997
unittitle: {"value"=>"Fashion Group International records"}
physdesc: {"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"65 linear ft. (168 archival boxes)"}], "supress_display"=>true}
repository: {"value"=>"The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division. <div class=\"address\"> Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788</div>"}
abstract: {"value"=>"The Fashion Group International Inc., founded in 1931, is a global nonprofit organization of more than 6,000 members representing all the areas of the fashion, apparel and related industries. The records contain several hundred black and white photographic prints of American and European couture and ready-to-wear clothing, fashion designers, Fashion Group members, celebrated personalities, fashion events and behind-the-scenes shots of Fashion Group events. Present also are copies of speeches given during Fashion Group events, correspondence and related material from conferences and meetings, records of affiliated regional groups, both domestic and foreign, fashion reports (credit sheets and news flashes), and printed material."}
langmaterial: {"value"=>"Materials in English"}
prefercite: {"value"=>"Fashion Group International records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library"}
origination: {"value"=>"Fashion Group International", "type"=>"corpname"}
bioghist: {"value"=>"The Fashion Group International Inc., founded in 1931, is a global nonprofit organization of more than 6,000 members representing all the areas of fashion and related industries. The records contain several hundred black and white photographic prints of American and European couture and ready-to-wear clothing, fashion designers, Fashion Group members, celebrated personalities, fashion events and behind-the-scene pictures of Fashion Group events. There are also copies of speeches given during Fashion Group events, correspondence and related material from conferences and meetings. The collection also contains some of the records of regional groups, both domestic and abroad, affiliated with the Fashion Group, fashion reports (credit sheets and news flashes), and printed material. The New York Public Library recognizes Lenore Benson, the former Executive Director of the Fashion Group who was one of the main advocates for the Fashion Group records to be donated to the library. Ms. Benson passed away in 2004. The Fashion Group International's World Wide Web home page is: http: //newyork. fgi. org/ Chronology of The Fashion Group International Inc. <ul class=\"chronlist\"> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1928 Seventeen women meet in New York City at the Mary Elizabeth Tea Room to discuss plans for a club. Purpose: To add dignity and standing to the job of stylist, and to serve as a clearinghouse for information. Plan: To become an adjunct of the National Retail Dry Goods Association (NRDGA).</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1929 Discussions continue at a luncheon at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York. It is decided not to join the NRDGA.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1930 Forty-five women meet at the Women's City Club to discuss the possibility of forming a fashion guild. Later that year, The Fashion Group is incorporated, with by-laws, a purpose, officers, a place to meet, and seventy-five members. Marian Taylor, Editor of Vogue, becomes the first president.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1931 Charter members continue to sign up, numbering 375 by year's end.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Placement Bureau is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Committees are formed for luncheons, finances and publicity.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Women's Wear Daily gives the FG office space in its building.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> FG Bulletin begins publication.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1932 Cleveland Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1934 Chicago Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1935 First \"Fashion Futures\" show highlighting trend-setting clothes from Paris fills the Hotel Astor Ballroom to capacity.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Regional groups are established in Los Angeles and San Francisco.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1936 Regional Groups are established in St. Louis, Boston and Minneapolis.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Second \"Fashion Futures\" is staged in New York.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1937 Pittsburgh Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Third \"Fashion Futures\" show is staged in New York.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1938 Philadelphia Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1940 District of Columbia Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1941 American Fashion Futures show is presented at the Waldorf.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1943 Dallas Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1944 Baltimore Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1945 Detroit Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1946 Kansas City Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1947 Atlanta, Cleveland and Columbia Regional Groups are established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1948 New Orleans and Portland, Oregon Regional Groups are established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1949 Houston Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1950 Minneapolis/St. Paul Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1952 South Florida Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1954 Annual Fashion Training Course is instituted: members are lectured on fashion careers with proceeds going to augment the library of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1956 Paris becomes the first Regional Group to be established abroad.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1957 Scholarship Fund is established in New York.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Montreal and Toronto Regional Groups are established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1958 Seattle and Denver Regional Groups are established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1959 Oklahoma City and Honolulu Regional Groups are established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1960 Headquarters moved to Rockefeller Center.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1962 Melbourne, Australia Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1963 Mexico City Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1966 First American Embassy show presented in Mexico City; the Mexico Regional Group sends exchange show to New York.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1967 Sydney Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Regional Groups in Sydney and Melbourne present Australian fashions in New York. This show travels to other U. S. regional groups across the country.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1968 An embassy show of American Fashion is presented in four Scandinavian capitals; exchange show of Scandinavian fashions is presented in New York and to regional groups.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Tokyo Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1970 Through the State Department's sponsorship of cultural exchange, India presents a show of fashions in New York and to regional groups.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The Fashion Group Foundation is established to replace the original scholarship fund.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1971 American fashions are presented at embassies in Paris and Athens.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1972 The State Department sponsors an American Indian show in New York.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1973 American fashions are presented in Tokyo; exchange show of Japanese fashions is presented in New York and to regional groups.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Charlotte Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1974 First Management Seminar is given at the Plaza Hotel, New York City.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1977 London Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1978 Seoul, Korea Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1981 The FG Foundation sponsors a series of three three-hour workshops on \"Effective Planning for Executives.\"</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1983 The FG Foundation sponsors a series of three workshops titled \"Stay Alive in Today's Economy.\"</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1985 The FG Foundation sponsors a fundraiser titled \"Treasures and Pleasures II.\" A portion of the proceeds is used to create the Fashion Group Foundation Archives.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> A report commissioned by the Celanese Corporation and the New York Fashion Group discovers that 30 million American women, one out of every three, wear a size 16 or over.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1986 The FG event, \"American Collections\" fall-winter show, held at the New York Hilton honors six U. S. designers: Donna Karan, Norma Kamali, Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Carolyn Roehm and Zack Carr.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FG of Chicago honors cosmetics and fragrance businesswoman Marilyn Miglin for her work with disfigured people.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FG hosts its third \"Night of Stars\" salute to \"Women Who Made a Difference in the Fashion Business\" at the Waldorf-Astoria Starlight Roof. The honorees include Norma Kamali, Donna Karan and Rei Kawakubo.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Of the more than $264,000 raised at a benefit auction, more than $130,000 goes to AIDS research. This event is sponsored by the FG of Washington. The remainder goes to a Fashion Group scholarship in the name of Nina Hyde, honoring her twenty-five years of fashion reporting in Washington.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1987 The FG sponsors a seminar titled \"The Business of Intimate Apparel: What's Next? \"</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> San Diego Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1988 The certificate of amendment is filed to change The Fashion Group to The Fashion Group International, Inc.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FGI hosts a luncheon at the Grand Hyatt of New York to discuss \"The Cosmetics Industry: Today's Critical Issues\". The speakers include Leonard Lauder, President and CEO of Estee Lauder.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1989 The FGI sponsors a live runway presentation of European haute couture at the Waldorf-Astoria to benefit major New York fashion schools.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> San Antonio Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1990 Three speakers at the FGI Foundation conference titled \"Only One Earth: A Conversation about the Fashion Industry and the Environment\" declare that the apparel industry is one of the \"bad guys\" when it comes to protecting the environment. The FGI offers suggestions to the fashion industry on how to clean up its act.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) holds a seminar on \"The Role of the Designer in a Changing Retail Climate\". Guest speakers include Bill Blass of Bill Blass, Ltd., and Lenore Benson, Executive Director of the FGI.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Colombia (South America) Regional Group is established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Guadalajara, Mexico receives provisional status as a regional group.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1991 The FGI celebrates its 60th birthday.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FGI Foundation Advisory Board that provides guidance to directors and membership is reestablished.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Dallas hosts the second annual FGI regional conference, with J. C. Penney as sponsor.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FGI of Miami, in conjunction with the Community Alliance Against AIDS, hosts \"Fete Française\", a salute to France. Proceeds from the black-tie gala evening benefit the University of Miami's Comprehensive AIDS Program.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FGI hosts the eighth annual Night of Stars at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> Palm Springs and Jacksonville regional groups are established.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1992 Orlando receives approval for full regional status after one year as a provisional group.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> The FGI selects the new Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center for Diagnostic Imaging and Breast Cancer as the focus of its first membership appeal to raise funds for a philanthropic cause. The FGI Foundation contributes $10,000 from its drive for year-end membership dues toward the establishment of this facility.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1993 FGI moves to its new headquarters at 597 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1994 The FGI, along with Hubert de Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta and others, honor Bernadine Morris of the New York Times.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> 1995 Spring 1996 Fabric and Color Trend Exhibit is mounted at the FGI headquarters.</li> <li class=\"chronitem\"> FGI hosts a panel discussion and luncheon on the current state of the women's apparel industry. The keynote speaker is Carol Farmer, a leading futurist and consumer trend analyst.</li></ul> Presidents of The Fashion Group International <ul class=\"table\"> <ul class=\"tgroup\"> <ul class=\"tbody\"> <ul class=\"row\"> 1931-1932 Marion C. Taylor</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1933 Kathleen Howard</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1934-1935 Mary Brooks Picken</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1936-1937 Winifred J. Ovitte</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1938-1939 Louise Paine Benjamin</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1940-1941 Julia Coburn</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1942-1943 Frederika Fox</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1944-1945 Prunella Wood</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1946-1947 Kay Sullivan</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1948-1949 Helen Valentine</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1950-1951 Dorothy L. Wallis</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1952-1953 Virginia Pope</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1954-1955 Florence Goldin</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1956-1957 Nancy White</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1958 Hope Skillman</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1959-1961 Sarah Lee</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1962-1963 Margaret de Mille</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1964-1965 Jessica Daves</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1966-1967 Helen Van Slyke</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1968-1969 Jeanne Pierre</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1970-1971 Marjorie Deane</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1972-1973 Edie Locke</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1974-1975 Rita Perna</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1976-1977 Rosemary McMurtry</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1978-1979 Betty Goodman</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1980-1981 Helen Galland</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1982-1983 Gloria Sachs</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1984-1985 Helen Kelly</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1986-1987 Jeanette Wagner</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1988 Colombe Nicholas</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1989 Marybeth Russell</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1990 Kitty d'Alessio</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1991 Barbara Tober</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1992 Annette Golden</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> 1994 Susan Falk</ul> <ul class=\"row\"> present Margaret Hayes</ul></ul></ul></ul> Susan Falk was the last person to hold the title of President as elected officer (volunteer). The title has since been replaced that of Executive Director (paid position). Chairperson and Board Members are still elected. The by-law reflecting this was made in 1995. Executive Directors of The Fashion Group International 1931-1983 Ethel Kremer Dorothy Waddington Eleanor McMillen Lee Enis 1984-1993 Lenore Benson Organizational History The Fashion Group International Inc. (FGI), established in 1931, is a global nonprofit organization of more than 6,000 women representing all the areas of fashion and related industries. Its mission is to advance professionalism in fashion and its related lifestyle industries, with particular emphasis on the role and development of women; to provide a public forum for examination of important contemporary issues in fashion and the business of fashion; to present timely information regarding national and global trends that affect the fashion industries; to attain greater recognition of women's achievements in business; to encourage women to seek career opportunities in fashion and related industries; to provide activities and programs that enhance networking skills and encourage interpersonal contacts so as to further the professional, social and personal development of members; and to administer the activities of the Fashion Group International Foundation. The Fashion Group International, Inc administers The Fashion Group International Foundation, the philanthropic foundation. It provides educational services related to fashion and related industries such as the promoting of educational programs devoted to fashion and to the study of fashion-related businesses through the creation and awarding of scholarships; establishing internship programs; making available career counseling services; and organizing and sponsoring seminars and other educational activities on a national and worldwide basis that will promote and foster the above purposes. The foundation also sponsors public service activities in which the fashion industry works to serve relevant community needs and concerns, and stimulates and encourages membership and industry participation in such activities. The administration of The Fashion Group International, Inc. includes an Advisory Board, a Board of Directors, Committee Chairs (Career Counseling, Environmental, Frontlines, Membership, Publications, Regional Directors Conference, Special Events and the Santa Claus Club). Subcommittees are formed on a short-term basis to support individual committee activities. In 1997 there were forty regional groups of which ten were located abroad. This number does not include provisional groups. In 1928, with the idea of forming an organization to meet the professional needs of women in fashion and related industries, a group of seventeen women met at Mary Elizabeth's Tearoom. The participants, well known professional women, representing a cross-section of New York talent, included Edna Wollman Chase of Vogue, and Carmel Snow of Harper's Bazaar; newspaper women Virginia Pope of The New York Times, and Alice Hughes of King Features; designers Claire McCardell, Lily Dache, Edith Head and Adele Simpson; retailer Dorothy Shave of Lord & Taylor's; cosmetics leaders Elizabeth Arden and Helen Rubenstein; educators Julia Coburn and Miss Tobé (Tobé Coller Davis) founders of the Tobé - Coburn School; and interior designer Eleanor le Maire. This group also included Eleanor Roosevelt who was at the time First Lady of the state of New York. Throughout its history, FGI has organized conferences and meetings on timely industry topics, featuring presentations by industry leaders. These forums have provided members with a means of keeping abreast of fashion trends and trends in the fashion industry, as well as global economic, political and social changes."}
scopecontent: {"value"=>"The bulk of the Fashion Group International records consist of photographic prints of American and European designer collections for women. Most of the images are of clothing designed from the 1940s through the 1970s. Almost all of these images are in black and white. There are some contact prints, color slides and color photographs. These records focus strongly on the development of American fashion, visually through photographic prints, and literally through speeches and transcripts, complemented by the FGI's newsletter. The FGI hosted and co-sponsored many of the events photographed, including business seminars, international fashion shows, couture shows, special events at cultural institutions, luncheons, and related meetings. With the latter, there are behind-the-scenes pictures of fashion shows, invited guests seated on the dais, and other similar images. There are also photographic prints of American and European fashion designers, fashion group members and prominent personalities, many of whom are or were members of the FGI. The writings consist of speeches and transcripts from the Fashion Group luncheons and other events, which provide documentation of the economic, business and political trends of the times. The FGI newsletter complements this material by providing timely information through the 1990s. There are also some written records of conferences, meetings and special events sponsored by the FGI and other organizations. Material pertaining to the domestic and foreign regional groups provides excellent examples of the work initiated by members in their local areas. There is a small group of non-FGI material in the collection. This consists primarily of printed and near-print material. The most significant representative of the non-FGI material is the historic documentation of the fashion trade in the form of a newsletter provided by Littman's Service (1941-1960s)."}

{"value"=>"The Fashion Group International records are arranged in sixteen series:\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1108940'>I. American Design Collections</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series is arranged alphabetically by designer and consists of a sampling of black and white photographs of American designers' collections, haute couture and name labels, mainly from the 1940s through the 1970s. There are a few contemporary color prints and contact sheets. Many of the models were photographed backstage before walking down the runway at fashion shows. While this series focuses primarily on clothing from the past decades, contemporary designers are also represented. Designers, haute couture and name labels represented in the series include: Adrian, John Anthony, Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beene, Stephen Burrows, Oleg Cassini, Liz Claiborne, Perry Ellis, Anne Fogarty, Diane Von Furstenberg, Halston, Cathy Hardwick, Carolina Herrara, Betsey Johnson, Norma Kamali, Donna Karan, Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Mary McFadden, Bob Mackie, Mollie Parnis, Oscar de la Renta, Jo Copeland for Pattullo, Zandra Rhodes, Fernando Sanchez, Willi Smith and John Weitz. Major mass marketed companies are also represented such as Bobbie Brooks, David Crystal, Evan Picone, Koret of California, Pendleton, R & K, Abe Schrader, Jerry Silverman, Ellen Tracy and White Stag.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109322'>II. European Design Collections</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series consists of four subseries: (a) British Design Collections (b) International Design Collections (c) French Design Collections and (d) Italian Design Collections. Each subseries is alphabetically arranged. The series spans the 1940s through the 1970s. Although the scope of designers represented here is not as broad as that represented in the American Designer series, the black and white prints which exclusively comprise this series include images of the creations of many outstanding European designers, and haute couture and name labels from western Europe including: Burberrys, Norman Hartnell, Jean Muir, Elio Bernhanyer, Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, Yves St. Laurent, Armani, Carosa, Pucci, Simonetta & Fabiani, Valentino and Versace.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109423'>III. Fashion Photographic Prints</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>The term \"Fashion Photographic Prints\" is used as a catchall phrase for a variety of black and white fashion photographic prints, 1950-1980s, related to the following subjects: Accessories, American fashion miscellany, children's wear, cosmetics, furs, home furnishings, intimate apparel, and menswear. There are three subjects that are strongly represented in this section: accessories, children's clothing and intimate apparel. \"Accessories, 1954-1964,\" consists of black and white photographic prints of hats, handbags, scarves, and similar items taken at accessories shows. The designers represented include Doro, Mr. John, Chanda, and Irene of New York. Hair designers are occasionally included, such as Pierre Monier of Elizabeth Arden, and Kenneth of Lily Dache. Clothing designers are sometimes included such as dress designer Galanos. The children's clothing series, 1951-1980s, documents three decades of fashion modeled by children during fashion shows, with other pictures taken backstage. The intimate apparel series, 1957-1978, represents two decades of loungewear and intimates.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109439'>IV. Fashion Photographic Prints by Season</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This is the only photographic series in the collection that is arranged by the fashion show seasons. Only three seasons are represented: Fall-Winter 1974, Spring-Summer 1974, and fall 1974. American and European designers and name labels are included, such as: Geoffrey Beene's Beene Bag Group, Cole of California, Marshall Lester of London, Ferragamo, Oscar II, Molly Parnis, and Pauline Trigere. Saks Fifth Avenue publicity prints of fashions from its department store include images of Robert Goldworm's Goldworm Collection and the Nicholas & Alexandra Collection designed by Adolfo, and Revillon furs. Among the Saks Fifth Avenue departments represented are the Active Sportswear Shop, Fake Fur Collection and the Montreal Leather Collection. (from the Public Relations file of Saks Fifth Avenue).</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109539'>V. Fashion Group Events, Other Events and Subjects</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series, arranged alphabetically by event, visually demonstrates through the black and white prints included here, the dynamic innovations of the FGI that is frequently involved as a sponsor or participant in fashion retrospective shows. The events thus recorded include a tribute to the designer Adrian, educational seminars for managers, historical exhibits, including the Hapsburg Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 1986 tribute to Nina Hyde, and the FGI's 50th Anniversary Journal (1980). The remainder of this series consists of several miscellaneous positive prints and contact sheets.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109603'>VI. FGI Cultural Exchange Shows</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>The shows are arranged alphabetically in the following order: American Indian, Australia, China, France and Greece, India, Japan, Mexico City, Moscow, Scandinavian (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) and Turkey. This series is a mixture of black and white photographic prints, color prints, slides, scrapbooks, correspondence, scripts, notes and publicity for the shows, most of them mounted in partnership with the U. S. State Dept. for the purpose of exchanging fashion information current or historic.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109621'>VII. Prominent Individuals and Biographical Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series is arranged alphabetically and contains mainly black and white prints of many of the personalities who attended FGI events. Many of these individuals are or were FGI members. This series is important because the list of prominent attendees reflects the wide-reaching influence of the FGI. There is some minor overlap with series eight and nine. When a image is unavailable in the file, a short biography or article about the subject is usually provided. Among the prominent personalities included in this series are: Betsy Talbot Blackwell, James Brady, Pat Buckley, Thomas N. Crater, Judith Crist, Bill Cunningham, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Eva Gabor, Thomas Hoving, Estee Lauder, Frances Lear, Annie Leibovitz, Joe McGinnis, Dr. Margaret Mead, Grace Mirabella, Bess Myerson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, HSH Prince Ranier and Princess Grace Ranier, Rex Reed, Gloria Steinem, Ivana Trump, Barbara Walters, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The remainder of this series is composed of miscellaneous prints of movie stills, actors, architects, and business executives.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1109875'>VIII. Fashion Designers</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>Series covers the decades from the 1940s through the 1990s. The subjects of the black and white photographic prints are designers who achieved prominence in decades past, as well as important contemporary designers. Some of the folders contain no images. In these instances, a biographical sketch or article about the designer is provided. The bulk of the designers represented are American; European designers are included to a lesser extent. A sampling of the designers represented in the series includes: John Anthony, Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Donald Brooks, Liz Claiborne and Bob Abajian, Perry Ellis, Donna Karan, Anne Fogarty, Diane Von Furstenberg, Halston, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Patrick Kelly, Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Jay Lane, Ralph Lauren, Carol Little, Bob Mackie, Mary McFadden, Vera Maxwell, Isaac Mizrahi, Danny & Annette Noble, Mollie Parnis, Paloma Picasso, Oscar de la Renta, Carolyn Roehm, Sonia Rykiel, Giorgio di Sant Angelo, Yves St. Laurent, Willi Smith, Valentino and Adrienne Vittadini.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110031'>IX. Photographic Prints of FGI Members</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series is arranged alphabetically. The black and white photographic images contained here reflect a portion of the more than six thousand members of the FGI photographed from the 1950s through the 1970s. Among the FGI members included are: Lenore Benson (former Executive Director of the FGI) Robin Burns, Joyce Castleberry, Francoise de la Renta & Petie Hoving, Mary Kay Edwards, Estelle Hamburger, Karol Kemster, Sally Kirkland, June Roche, Ada Shalit, Jane Troxell Stark and Susan Taylor (editor of Essence).</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110176'>X. Writings</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>The texts of speeches and transcripts (the latter of speeches and audience remarks) from the period 1931-1995 are arranged chronologically, and document the FGI luncheons and other events held at major hotels throughout Manhattan. Prominent individuals from the fields of fashion, business, economics, publishing and related industries were asked to be guest speakers on timely topics. The transcripts circa 1930s through 1940s supplement the speeches, and are word-for-word remarks from the dais speakers. Matilda J. Perlmutter, a stenotype reporter, made many of the transcripts for these years. The guest speakers spoke about their fields of specialization while also remarking on current events. For example, the transcripts for the luncheons held during World War II include some first-hand accounts of Paris under the control of the Nazis, and record concerns from the American fashion community over the cut-off of raw good imports from Paris, then closed to commerce. Postwar luncheon themes focused on the recovery of the fashion industry and the impact the war had on the economy. From the 1960s to the 1990s there was an explosion of new fashion and related industry interests, for example, in the areas of menswear, new fashion options for women, changes in the industry, and the environment. The custom of the FG keeping of complete transcripts of the luncheons ended by the 1950s. There is a gap in the speeches files for the years 1934 through 1937 and for the year 1942. The Fashion Group Bulletin (newsletter) contains an abstract of the luncheon programs (located in containers 144-152). Consult the separate index at the end of the inventory.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110581'>XI. Conferences, Meetings and Special Events</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110621'>XII. Regional Groups (U. S). Affiliated with the FGI</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series is arranged into two sub-series: a) Domestic Regional Groups affiliated with the FGI and b) Regional Groups abroad affiliated with the FGI. Both sections provide an excellent source of information about the activities of the regional groups and their relationship to the parent organization. These records should not be considered complete. Many of the groups are currently active and more complete archives are most likely kept by the groups themselves. The domestic regional groups, 1930s-1990s, are arranged by city in the following order (* indicating strong representation) : Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston*, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland*, Columbus*, Dallas*, Detroit*, Fort Worth, Houston, Honolulu, Kansas City*, Los Angeles*, Miami, Minneapolis/ St. Paul, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia*, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle*, Tampa, Tempe, AZ; Washington, DC*. The regional groups abroad, 1930s-1990s, are smaller in scope and are arranged by city in the following order: Bogota, Colombia; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, England; Melbourne, Australia; Mexico City, Mexico; Montreal, Quebec; Paris, France; Sydney, Australia, and Tokyo, Japan. The remainder of this series consists of miscellaneous administrative records, including annual reports from the 1950s to 1985, and membership directories for the period 1977-1996. See also: Series XVI. Additions. Domestic Regional Groups Affiliated with the FGI.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110687'>XIII. FGI Fashion Reports and Directories</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>The Fashion reports are comprised of credit sheets and news flashes (timely fashion updates), 1954-1996, and are arranged chronologically. The credit sheets acknowledge designers, retail establishments and others who donated their products for the benefit of the FGI luncheons and other fashion events.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110695'>XIV. FGI Printed Material</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>The Fashion Group Bulletin (later FGI Bulletin), 1931-1997, is the official organ of the organization and contains timely information about FGI activities and events of interest to its members. The newsletter provides abstracts of luncheon proceedings, reports by Committee members covering trends in specific markets, news of member's activities and career moves, information on upcoming events, and lists of new members. Later issues include graphics. The remainder of the printed material consists of publications generated by the Fashion Group International including the 1930/1980 commemorative issue.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110713'>XV. Non-FGI Printed Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series is arranged into two subseries: a) Newspaper Clippings, and b) Fashion Newsletters. The Newspaper clippings are arranged, first by state, then chronologically within each state's file. Many of these articles focus on the Fashion Group and its affiliates. Other articles report fashion trends, events and personalities. Sub series B is comprised of fashion newsletters for the trade. The newsletters are trade publications pertaining to the latest trends in fashion. They include Fashion Digest Newsletter, (1942-1950), by Arthur E. Littman Service; Fashion Scope Newsletter, (1954-1968), by S. Irene Johns Inc.; The Mary Sherwell Office Newsletter, (1960-1966); and Jack Anstendig & Son Newsletter, (1964-1967). The remainder of the printed material consists of assorted publications and near-print items.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/980#c1110842'>XVI Additions. Regional Groups (U. S.) and Abroad Affiliated with the FGI</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series continues the documentation of the FGI regional groups in the United States and to a lesser extent abroad. The files contain some correspondence; however, the strength of the series is the numerous examples of events held by the regional groups. This material includes a wide variety of graphically illustrated invitations, occasional poster type material promoting the events attended by individuals in the fashion field such as designers, fashion writers, social figures and others. Regional groups with the strongest representation are Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Antonio, and Washington, DC. The files contain correspondence, invitations, minutes, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, printed matter, and reports.</div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement: {"value"=>"The collection is arranged into fifteen series. I. American Design Collections; II. European Design Collections; III. Fashion Photographic Prints; IV. Fashion Photographic Prints by Season; V. Fashion Group Events, Other Events and Subjects; VI. FGI Cultural Exchange Shows; VII. Photographic Prints of Prominent Individuals; VIII. Photographic Prints of Fashion Designers; IX. Photographic Prints of FGI members; X. Writings; XI. Conferences, Meetings and Special Events; XII. Regional Groups; XIII. FGI Report; XIV. FGI Printed Material; XV. Non-FGI Printed Material", "supress_display"=>true}
acqinfo: {"value"=>"Gift of The Fashion Group International, Inc., 1995-1996, 2004"}
processinfo: {"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"Valerie Wingfield, May 1997; revised 2007"}
extent_statement: 65 linear feet (168 archival boxes)
date_bulk_start: 1940
date_bulk_end: 1979

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Fashion Group International records

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