mardi 18 février 2014

The Florence Eiseman Clothing Brand

By Krystal Branch


Florence Eiseman is an iconic name in the fashion world when it comes to clothing for children. She and her late husband, Laurence, launched the business in 1945 with their first sale of pinafores to Marshall Fields. Her clothes were inspired by the philosophy that one should see the child first and only then notice the clothing. She was a stickler for quality fabrics and workmanship, with many of the clothes initially being finished by hand.

When she and her husband started the business, little girls were often dressed in big skirts and petticoats with many ruffles and frills. She felt that they did not need this embellishment. Her sentiment was that a classic simplicity of design ensured that an item never went out of style. The simple lines of her clothing were appreciated generations of mothers.

Early features of her designs included classic lines, bright colors, handcrafted details and collars that framed the face. Within ten years, she had become the first designer of clothes for children to receive the Nieman Marcus award for her contribution to fashion. She was also featured in a major retrospective at the Milwaukie Art Museum in 1985.

In the 1980s Florence phased out her day-to-day involvement. She left her head designer, Teri Shapiro, in charge of design. Teri had worked under her since 1972 and says that the most important thing she learned was that every design has to be fresh but it still has to maintain that iconic look of the brand. She has nurtured the brand ever since and although the company went through some ups and downs, it is going strong today.

The range has expanded over the years to include swimwear, play clothes and knitwear. It has also extended its range of baby clothes, including a variety of dresses, bloomers and rompers in cool and comfortable cotton blends. Fabrics are patterned with prints and stripes and are still embellished with delightful appliques which are a signature of the brand.

The company is based in Milwaukie and has always sold their clothing through stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. This has changed with the advent of internet based shopping. The clothing is still available through these stores and others but with websites on which orders can be placed, they are now available to a much wider market.

This clothing is still noted for its attention to detail, including deep hemlines, French seams, and bound buttonholes. Items are lined and machine washable. Some of the items are reversible, including a multicolored seersucker dress and seersucker overalls with zoo animal appliques. There are floppy hats with floral and butterfly details to match.

The company continues to update its looks, combining its classic look with recent trends without ever responding to fads. The brand has weathered all the changes to clothing for children over the years and sales are still going strong. Their careful workmanship and enduring designs means Florence Eiseman clothes are often saved for siblings or cousins and passed down from generation to generation.




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