Set
Designer
Sophie Gimbel
(1898 - 1981)
c. 1950
Discharge printed silk twill and cashmere
Gift of Mrs. Herbert Berg and Mr. Leon Berg
Object number75.77.1
The patterning on this day dress was achieved through discharge printing: the dress was dyed and then selectively treated with a bleaching agent to create the floral design. This process, and the chemicals it requires, are especially environmentally harmful. As textiles scholar Keith Slater has noted, discharge printing “combines the worst aspects of printing and dyeing.”
Descriptionsleeveless dress in black silk twill with discharge spaced floral print in cream; scoop neck; bodice fitted in front with slant side bust darts, and straight under bust darts three inch peplum on skirt center front from seam in skirt matching to under bust darts; two panels with center front seam is soft pleated from under peplum; bodice front and peplum and snap closing on skirt 1/2 inch matching belt with hook closing. Bolero cashmere sweater scattered with circle cutouts bound in print of dress and decorated with small tailored bowExhibitions