Embroiderers Guild, Victoria
Textile - Parachute Silk Smocked Dress, Edith Slater, Late 1940's
... child's dress was made by the Donor's Grandmother - Edith Slater (née Day) in the late 1940's.
She was born in Clerkenwell, London in the 1880's, one of 9 children ( 8 girls and 1 boy).
She was a fine needle woman and during the Great Depression (1930's) she supported herself and her 3 children by making babies bonnets by hand.
Every 2 weeks she packed a case with 3 dozen bonnets and took them to London to be sold. Made in the late 1940's from parachute silk.
Life in post WW2 Britain ...
This child's dress was made by the Donor's Grandmother - Edith Slater (née Day) in the late 1940's.
She was born in Clerkenwell, London in the 1880's, one of 9 children ( 8 girls and 1 boy).
She was a fine needle woman and during the Great Depression (1930's) she supported herself and her 3 children by making babies bonnets by hand.
Every 2 weeks she packed a case with 3 dozen bonnets and took them to London to be sold.Made in the late 1940's from parachute silk.
Life in post WW2 Britain was very basic and traditional fabric was rationed.Cream Parachute Silk Smocked Dress with three bands of smocking on the front and one band on the back.
embroidered in trellis stitch in two shades of green thread.
Short sleeves, Peter Pan collar, waist tie, Buttons and press stud back closure,
RMIT GSBL Justice Smith Collection
Embroiderers Guild, Victoria