Louis Kahan (1905-2002) is best known in Australia for his skill as an artist. As Independent Fashion Curator, Laura Jocic has observed, ‘It is less known though that Kahan had a career in theatre and fashion in Vienna and Paris during the 1920s and 1930s that continued when he came to Australia in 1947. He signed his fashion illustration with the initials 'nac', a phonetic interpretation of his surname spelled backwards. In this illustration on newspaper we can see Kahan playing with the graphic effects of line and text, while communicating the cut and drape of late-1950s fashions.’ Kahn was born in Vienna in 1905 and first travelled to Australia in 1947. He moved to Melbourne in 1950 where he became friends with artist George Bell, writer Alan McCulloch who introduced him to Clem Christensen, editor of the literary journal Meanjin, where many of his portraits of Australian writers were published. His 1962 portrait of the author Patrick White won the Archibald Prize, bringing him national recognition. He also designed sets and costumes for the Elizabeth Theatre Trust (Opera Australia) and the Melbourne Theatre Company. In 1993 his contribution to Australian cultural life was recognised when he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO). He died in Melbourne, at the age of 97 in 2002. Ann Carew 2018Fashion illustration on newsprint. Drawing depicts two women. Women in foreground is wearing a long green coat and hat.Woman at rear is wearing a green and white evening dress with white gloves.Signed lower right in ink, 'nac 1958'.fashion illustration, fashion design

Edith (Alice) WATSON (1914–2010) Murtoa | Australia Alice Watson studied at the Ballarat Technical Art School (at the School of Mines, Ballarat) from 1930 until 1933. These works include commercial art, advertising and catalogue illustrations as well as figure construction and fashion-plate designs. Watson sat several departmental exams, including drawing and painting plant forms from nature, lettering, Composition of Form and Colour and advanced General Design, as well as dressmaking and embossed leatherwork. Her folio applies many Australian native floral elements to design. Upon graduating, Watson taught at the Murtoa High School, living with her parents until their deaths in 1972 and 1988 when she was 74 years old. Alice Watson died in Ballarat, aged 95, having conserved her beautiful student folio, which was generously gifted to the Federation University permanent Historical Collection by the Watson family. Commercial artA folio of Fashion Drawing by Edith Alice Watson of the Ballarat Technical Art School. .1) Two women dressed in fashionable clothing- lhs tan ensemble and hat; rhs fuschia ensemble with black and white accessories plus fur stole. Signed lrs A.Watson. 1933. .26) The image with three women wearing a hats. This appears to be an example of ticket writing. Signed lrs "A Watson- 2nd term. 1932." .35) The image with a woman wearing a hat appears to be an example of ticket writing. Signed lrs "A Watson--11th-7-32." .23) female figure drawing. Signed lrs A.Watson. 1st Term. 1932 .21) female figure drawing. Signed lrs A.Watson. 2nd Term. 1932 .17) drawing of lips, side view. Signed lrs A. Watson. 1931 .18) drawing of lips,three-quarter view. Signed lrs A. Watson .37) Paper is embossed with 'Windsor & Newtons Bristol Board' stamp.(Griffin depicted in centre)alice watson, ballarat technical art school, art, drawing, figure drawing, alumni, costume drawing, fashion drawing, ticket writing, 1930's fashion, indian ink, edith alice watson, figure construction, advertising, commercial art

Gouache on paper illustration of a woman from Pátzcuaro region, Michoacán, Mexico, by Mexican fashion illustrator Alfredo González Bouret (1926-2018). Likely created in 1953, prior to being exhibited in Mexico and Paris in 1954. From the Patzcuaro region of Michoacán state, Mexico, this woman wears a wide-brimmed 'sombrero' on top of her 'rebozo' - a long rectangular shawl made of wool or cotton with an intricate hand-knotted pattern, popular throughout Mexico. Her hair is held away from her face, likely in long plaits down her back in the traditional style of the region. Her ears and neck are decorated with long earrings and strings of beads, while her plain white blouse is tucked in to a bright red 'refajo' skirt, gathered at the waist by a textile belt with geometric designs. In her hands she holds long-stemmed lilies. While resembling other illustrations of fashion from the Patzcuaro region, this costume stands out for the bright colour of the skirt, and the lack of embroidered decoration on the blouse. Rebecca Lloyd, 2019.Mounted painting of a woman in traditional regional dress from the Patzcuaro region of Michoacán, Mexico. Gouache on paper, c.1953.Signed in green paint, bottom right, 'AG Bouret'.mexico, 1953, fashion design, painting, illustration, mexican, fashion illustration, dress

Drawing of an early 20th century French fashion designer Paul Poiret (1879-1944), a master couturier working in Paris during the first two decades of the 20th century.Lower right recto, on image, grey pencil: "LOUIS / KAHAN / 26" Lower right corner recto, grey pencil: 'poiret, paintre'fashion illustration

The first issue of The Young Englishwoman was published in December of 1864 and was directed toward a young, female, middle-class audience and treated mostly household matters such as needlework, recipes, house-hold management tips and fashion. The Young Englishwoman started out as a weekly magazine but, as editors and publishers changed over time, it became a monthly periodical.This items is used to illustrate the popularisation of fashion styles in the 19th centuryFramed fashion plate - 'The Newest French Fashions': modelled for the Young Englishwoman. fashion illustration, young englishwoman

The Young Ladies Journal was first published by E. Harrison. It was issued from 1864 to 1920. Framed fashion plate from the Young Ladies Journal. Two women in 1864 costume, one blue, one monochrome. Bordered in pale green coloured card. Wire attached to metal loops at back. Masking tape at back.fashion illustration, ladies home journal

The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine was issued monthly in the following years: 1852–1874; 1877; 1880–1890. Initially, it contained only nondescript black and white images. Aware of the growing interest in fashion, style and manners from the new middle classes, Samuel Beeton began to import tinted fashion plates directly from Jules David in Paris from 1860. Primary source for fashion design in the 1860sFramed fashion plate -'The Fashions … for the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine'. Framed print of two women in 1860 costume. Bordered in pale green coloured card. Wire attached to metal loops at back. Masking tape at back.fashion illustration, englishwoman's domestic magazine

Annual record of teaching staff, students and events that took place over the year by using both photos and reports. Headmaster / Principal - Mr. Don GrantA permanent record of who attended Watsonia High School - both student and teacher in 1985 - includes photographs. Note change of name from Kurnaji (previous yearbooks).Pages not numbered, blue cover, Title "Watsonia High 1985" outlined in Black ink. Contains text and graphics. Cover illustration – fashion sketches.watsonia high school, yearbook, kurnaji, school magazines

New York: Reporter Publications, 1953-1983. Hardcover. A broken run of this remarkable publishing venture, providing insight into the fashion of the day, fabric swatches, history of textile design, interviews with designers, etc.18 unique magazines containing multiple years. An invaluable reference tool for researching American lifestyle, tastes, fashion, style and fabrics as they evolved from the end of World War II to the dawn of feminism. With real vintage fabric swatches in each issue. Each issue is profusely illustrated with color photography and fashion illustration, as well as with beautifully designed covers by important artists. Such design magazines were utilised by Australian designers to help inspiration for the upcoming season's fashion. Such magazines were not cheap, compared to an international business trip however, they are seen as affordable to the point of being invaluable. 18 unique magazines from American Fabrics. First issue is from 1948 with latest from 1968. Colourful external covers with internal pages containing a mixture of black & white pages, colour pages and fabric swatches. Images of front and back cover are visible within media as well as contents of all 18 copies, particular articles of interest are obtainable by contacting the National Wool Museumtextile design, 1940s-1960s

Charles Knight is an English publisher and author. He was born at Windsor in 1791, and died in 1873 at Addlestone, Surrey. This book covers the period of English history from pre Roman times to the Industrial age. It shows how life was like in old England in regards to people, places, architecture and fashions, etc. The book contains 1000's of wonderful engravings, hand coloured plates beside 100's of pages of text contained in one volume. A large leather brown/gilt cover book with black leather bound and corners. 392 p. with coloured and b/w illustrations. It includes a table of contents of volume 1, 18 illuminated engraved (colour) plates, indexes to the engravings at the end of the book. 'Old England' gilt decoration on spine. The book shows how life was like in old England in regards to people, places, architecture and fashions, etc. from Roman times through to Industrial age. The book is published in two volumes, the book in hand contains volume 1 only.A plate inside front cover titled "Ballarat Technical Art School Library No. R/170"travel, customs, and, great britain antiquities, old england history, great britain description, the british period, the roman period, the anglosaxon period, regal baronial antiquities, ecclesiastical antiquities, great, britain social, life, charles knight, tomb of mary queen of scots, rochester castle

The Ballarat Technical Art School was part of the Ballarat School of MinesA soft covered book of 58 pages called the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries Prospectus A. Contents includes teaching staff, school hours, curriculum, fee list, Travelling concessions, school library, classification of subjects. scholarships, list of examiners, full science courses Includes images Staff of the Ballarat School of Mines and Students at work in Turning and Fittingballarat school of mines, ballarat technical art school, design, modelling, figure drawing, fashion plate drawing, black and white illustration, wood carving, lettering, art metal work, retouching, architecture, architectural diploma, draughtsmen's courses, art teachers' courses, outdoor sketching classes, photography, building construction, architectural drawing, ticketwriting, signwriting and decorating, dressmaking, needlework, art teachers' certificate., student activities

The Warrnambool Standard Centenary Issue, 1872 - 1972, summarises the local and world history highlights over 100 years. The pages in the images are a sample of the newspaper's contents. They show: - PAGE 1; sketches of two young women, one dressed in 1872 fashion, the other in 1972 fashion. PAGE 34; This page was dedicated to the Ponting Bros. The business celebrated its Centenary in 1972. There apr photographs of the original and the new building, and a photograph and names of the staff of 1972. PAGES 34-38: Lift out facsimile copy of the first edition of The Standard (no longer in 3096.01) PAGE 39; In January 1917 Mr Basil Watson flew the first aeroplane to visit the Warrnambool area. He entertained the crowds by performing aerobic acrobatics in the plane he'd built himself. Two months later he died in a plane accident. PAGE 70; In 1967 Australia's Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt, goes missing, presumed drowned. PAGE 71; In 1970 the mystery of four bodies were found in a car that crashed over the cliff at Loch Ard Gorge, near Port Campbel, made headlines in the Standard. PAGE 72; The back page features a photograph and greetings from Fletcher Jones and Staff. There are many staff members in front of the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool, which was established around 1924.The centennial edition of the Standard newspaper includes local social, economic and historical aspects of Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia and the World. It reflects the interests of the local community and the reactions to the events of the time.The Standard, Warrnambool, Centenary Issue 1872 – 1972 (Two copies).100 years of District Service. The issue includes World and Local History, Advertisements, Timeline, Facsimile of the First Issue, Shipwrecks, and Wars. The Centenary edition was printed on October 2, 1972, 72 pages. One copy (3096.02) includes the centre lift-out on pages 35 to 38 of a facsimile copy of the first edition published on October 1, 1872.Page 1: "The Standard Warrnambool" "Warrnambool Standard Centenary Issue October 2 1972, 72 pages" On illustration of building "1872 / Warrnambool Standard" Page 34: "On this site ... since 1924" [Ponting Bros} "Staff of Ponting Bros. 1972" Page 39: "Aviation history-maker" "RECORD TRIP BY FIRST PLANE TO VISIT CITY" "Thrilling display of aerial acrobatics" Page 70: "PM HOLT IS PRESUMED DROWNED" "GAVE GOVT. IMAGE OF YOUTH" Page 71: "Where death car crashed on ledge" "PT CAMPBELL MYSTERY: FOUR BODIES FOUND IN CAR AT BOTTOM OF CLIFF" "POLICE SEARCH SWINGS BACK TO MELBOURNE" Page 72: "Greetings to the"Standard"" "Fletcher Jones" flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, ladies fashion 1872, ladies fashion 1972, ponting bros. centenary 1872-1972, ponting bros. staff, basil watson, basil watson 1917, harold holt 1967, car crash at loch ard gorge, fletcher jones and staff 1972, the standard centenary 1872-1972, warrnambool newspaper, warrnambool standard, centenary edition, the standard

Trunk is made strong for long journeys and rough use. Tray compartments would have been fitted inside the lid for storage of smaller items such as hats, umbrellas and underclothing. The illustration pasted inside the lid is similar to those shown in women's fashion journals of the 1880s and 1890s. A similar trunk was found in the catalogue of Anthony Hordern & Sons, a large and famous late 19th to mid 20th century retailer in Sydney,.This trunk is an example of the typical travel luggage of people migrating to the Colony of Australia in the late 19th century.Wooden cabin trunk, rectangular, brown in colour. Lid has arched top, front has a strong padlock, sides have leather strap handles. Corners and edges are reinforced with iron, iron bands and extra wooden slats. Lid is divided into tray compartments. A print of a female in 19th century costume is attached to the inside the lid in one compartment. flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, trunk, cabin trunk, travel trunk, cargo, storage, women's fashion, late 19th century fashion, travel luggage, travel goods

Women's magazines developed rapidly through the 1800's reflecting marketing and social changes. Publications evolved from being journals aimed at the middle class to cheaper, chattier more domestic magazines more widely available. Alice Letitia Swan was the daughter of Edward Swan (tinsmith and plumber at Orbost) and Emma Dinah Jefferson. Alice married Herman Oswald (Ossie) Wehner (blacksmith, Orbost) on 4-4-1923. She was born in 1899 in Omeo and died 14-6-1979, aged 80 in Orbost.(info. from John Phillips)These are early 20th century examples of English women's magazines. They give practical advice on needlework and they evidence the widespread interest in contemporary fashion. In doing so they show what were the fashionable, but broadly affordable, women's and children's clothing styles of their day. These magazines also reflect women's interests in fiction at that time.Two magazines, titled The Lady's Companion. 2424.1 was printed on 21.1.1911 and cost one penny. 2424.2 is dated 25.11.1916 and is titled Leach's Lady's Companion and has a pink cover. Both contain illustrations of the current fashions, interesting facts and selected fiction. 2424.2 : on back in red pen - Miss Alice Swan Nicholson St Orbostwomen's-magazines lady's-companion swan-alice

This Journal contains a wide variety of lifestyle subjects, showing an interest in in collection of ladies’ fashion covers, newspaper clippings and personal notes appear to have been gathered by a person with interests in fashion, poetry and the home. The covers dating up to 1870 have signatures such as “E. Preval”, a mid to late 19th century watercolour artist. Covers from 1871 have no signatures but have the word “COPYRIGHT” included in the printing. The name below the illustrations “Moine et Falconer” is a French fashion printer and publisher. The loose newspaper cuttings are dated from 1878 to 1927. Journal, comprising a collection of sixty (60) medium weight cartridge paper covers of the “Ladies’ Supplement of the London Journal” with a selection of newspaper clippings pasted to the back of all but two of the covers. The journal covers are dated between years 1868 – 1877. They each have a hand coloured engraving. Below some of the illustrations is a name and address (in French). Some of the covers have a portrait orientation and others are landscape. Some of the covers have a length of additional paper on the left/top with small print, as though there has been a magazine spine attached. The covers have printed dates and numbers, and some of the illustrations are numbered and have one or two signatures. On the reverse of the covers is a selection of newspaper cuttings, including poetry, Household Receipts (recipes, helpful hints on household matters, quotes, fashion, etc.) and personal notes, carefully cut to fit onto the pages. Hand written dates on some of these articles show that they are not all from the same date, and don’t necessarily correspond to the date of the cover. Some of these pages have been assembled upside down to the front cover. Also included are additional notes and loose newspaper cuttings from 1878 – 1927. Under some of the hand coloured engravings are the printed words “Moine et Falconer, imp. r. St Victor, go Paris” (or similar). There are also one or two signatures on the earlier engravings including “E. Preval”. Printed onto the Journal pages “Price one Penny”. Several of the pages have hand drawn lines and pencil script notes. Many of the newspaper cuttings have a date written in pencil on them. For example, “Stuffing Birds”.. The Ladies’ Supplements have been printed with number for “Published with No. –“, and a number for “Presented with Part -”. Some of the reverse pages have pencil notes beside them. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, ladies’ supplement of the london journal, the london journal, journal, 19th century, london journal office, moine et falconer, fashion print, ladies’ clothes, fashion plates, 19th century lifestyle, 19th century fashion, e proval

This is one of two books donated together and believed to have belonged to the Purvis family. The books were rescued from recycling. It has the name of C A. Purvis on the front endpaper. The other book from the same donor has the inscription "C. Purvis". The inscription on the back endpaper of this book is of interest, 'Edith Fox, Gheringhap, 1879' as it is earlier than the earliest journal in the book. Perhaps it is the birth date of Edith. It is also interesting that an notice was printed in the Geelong Advertiser in 1922 stating that Edith Susan Fox of Box Hill had an interest in land in Gheringhap. Gheringhap is a town on the Midland Highway, Victoria, 15 km northwest of Geelong, and 6.7 km southeast of Bannockburn. This is one of two journals of ladies fashion, fancy work and stories that reflect the interests of women the late 1800s. They are a useful source of historical information and include advertising and thought provoking articles .Young Ladies Journal 1884 - 1885; a collection of journals in a burgundy leather-bound spine and hardcovers with a black, blue, burgundy and cram pattern. The Journal contains illustrations and articles of a wide variety including fashion, fancy work and family reading. Inscriptions are on the spine and the front and back end pages. Inserted between pages is a loose Christmas Magazine from The Sun, dated 24th Dec 1954. Published by the Curtis Publication Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Inside the front cover on the first page, handwritten in pen; "C.A. Purvis 1955" Inscription, script in black ink; "Edith Fox / Gheringhap / 1879"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, young ladies journal 1884 - 1885, young ladies journal, 1884-1885, ladies journal, women's journal, fashion, fancy work, family reading, illustrated magazine, purvis, c a purvis, edith fox, gheringhap, 1879, edith fox gheringhap 1879

As mentioned in the Description, the cover of The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is plain and in good condition. The internal pages are in similarly good condition, straight cut, and secured to the book binding with no signs of heavy use or wear. However the paper of the internal pages appears yellowed with age, unlike the cover pages that join the boards to the content pages. As also noted in the Description, the internal pages have intricate lettering, with black page borders, double column printing, and nineteenth-century styled black and white illustrations (etchings). This suggests that the bound pages represent an earlier print run and the cover was added, or replaced, at a later date. The book cover’s plain green design with minimal gold lettering seems more recent publishing practice than the pages within. This book bears no publishing date, which supports the speculation that the content pages were purchased as a remaindered lot and bound and distributed by another party, possibly in Australia rather than Britain, and at a much later date than the old fashioned page formatting suggest. The good condition of the cover and the bound pages indicate the book was seldom borrowed or read and the book may therefore have been acquired after the height of the poet Longfellow’s popularity (in the mid to late nineteenth century). The stamps and labels attached to the cover and title pages testify to the book’s provenance, from its initial ownership by the Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Library, to custody in the Warrnambool Municipal Library (where it, along with other WMIL texts, was catalogued by a librarian called Pattison), and finally to the Flagstaff Hill Historical Book Collection. The book was part of a collection of books, now known as the Pattison Collection, which originally belonged to the Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Library. In this context it is an example of the range of titles carried by Victorian rural libraries in the colonial and federation periods (Significance Assessment 2009).The book is bound in plain green cloth covered board with gold lettering on the top of the spine, which reads “THE POETICAL WORKS OF LONGFELLOW”. The cover is plain otherwise and in good condition. Clear Tape secures a typed paper sticker on the lower middle of the spine, which reads “PAT 811 LON”. The internal pages are in similarly good condition, straight cut, and secured to the book binding with no signs of heavy use or wear. However the paper of the internal pages appears yellowed with age, unlike the cover pages that join the boards to the content pages. The internal pages contain intricate lettering, black page borders, double column printing, and nineteenth-century styled black and white illustrations. Name: The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Author: H W Longfellow Publisher: William P Nimmo The cover page bears a printed label stuck over an earlier one, which reads “Corangamite Regional Library Service • Warrnambool City Library • Pattison Collection”. The title page bears a flat oval shaped black ink stamp containing the words “MECHANICS WARRNAMBOOL INSTITUTE”. On this page there is also the notations “P/W 4885” written in pencil, and “821” written in blue ‘biro’.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, poetry, henry wadsworth longfellow, classic book, 19th century, literature, leisure, warrnambool mechanics institute library, pattison collection, henry wadsworth longfellow’s poetical works, edinburgh publisher william p. nimmo, h w longfellow, the poetical works of henry wadsworth longfellow, warrnambool public library

In 1981, Ansett Australia introduced a new look for their uniforms. The designer was Adele Weiss, wife of Peter Weiss.The journal and the uniforms displayed at the museum, demonstrate the collaboration between Ansett and two Australian fashion designers.Colour printed journal with illustrations1981, uniform, stewardess, hostess, flight attendant, adele weiss

Chandeliers and billy tea - a catalogue of Australian life 1880 - 1940. 224 pages with photos and illustrations. Published by Five Mile Press, Hawthorn, Vic.Peter Cuffleyaustralia, culture, culture, fashion, history of technology, butterick fashions

Norman William Penrose (1903–1976) was an Australian painter and art teacher renowned for his depictions of regional Victorian landscapes and everyday scenes, particularly around Bendigo where he spent most of his lifeArtwork. Norman Penrose collection: various colour and black and white pictures of women's fashion taken from magazines, etc and pasted onto cardboard. Some blue and white illustrations of methods of drawing figures and clothing.artwork, norman penrose collection, artwork, women's fashion

Artwork. Norman Penrose collection: notes on fashion drawing written on various pieces of paper and cardboard and illustrations in blue and white pasted onto cardboard.artwork, norman penrose, fashion

Artwork. Norman Penrose collection: brown art folder with darker brown spine. Contains notes on Painting Schools and art. Also pronunciation of artists names. Also contains cuttings from magazines & papers relating to women's and men's fashions. Also some cuttings of armchairs. Some drawings of women and notes and illustrations of proportions of the head for fashion drawing. Some of the cuttings are pages from the Australian Women's Weekly.drawing, pencil, norman penrose collection, australian women's weekly, painting schools, women's and men's fashions.

This book is a sample book of the various types, thicknesses and colours of hand knitting yarn produced by the Villawood Textile Company under the trade name of 'Villawool' in c.1963. The illustration on the front cover was produced by a designer / design firm called 'Saxton'.Front cover of a book of Villawool knitting yarn samples produced by the Villawood Textile Company, c.1963.THE / FashioN / iN / kNiTTiNG / Villawool SAXTONhandicrafts knitting, villawood textile company, handicrafts, knitting

Barber House, Carlton was designed by Edmond & Corrigan and built in 1980. The drawing was commissioned by Edmond and Corrigan. This image was published in Transition magazine, No.27/28 1989.This drawing of Barber house by Robert Pearce, who was best known as a fashion designer, broke the mould of how architecture could be represented. Suddenly it was understood as a part of contemporary culture. Illustration of Edmond & Corrian's Barber House, CarltonStamped in black ink, bottom left: 'Robert Pearce'architecture, domestic architecture, illustration, design

Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.8 page booklet containing price list for winter 1972. Hand-drawn illustration on front of booklet depicts two young boys in striped jumpers in shades of blue and brown. Internal pages of booklet contain a table in landscape orientation printed in black ink containing Style number, description, pricing for given sizes, and available colours. It has “Mr Robert” handwritten in blue ink in the top right corner and is annotated in red ink.[Obverse] PRICE LIST KATHRYN ROBERT BLAKE (DISTRIBUTORS) PTY. LTD business, business history, manufacturing, knitting machine, fashion textile production, business archives, manufacturing documents, children's knitwear, children's clothing

Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.Original illustration artwork on cream matboard/card inked in shades of grey and black. Used for marketing. Depicts Five figures of children in iconic Kathryn knitwear styles. The boy on the top left wears a dark crew neck jumper over a pale collared short with shorts. The two other boys on the top row (at centre and right) are depicted in very similar outfits, though the shades of their clothing differ. They are both shown in v-neck cardigans with three buttons and a colourwork animal motif at the hem over a pale suit with a dark tie. The figure at the centre has a dark cardigan and pale shorts, while the figure at the right has a light cardigan and dark shorts. The two figures on the bottom row are both girls wearing flared skirts with bows in their hair. They both wear crewnecks, the figure on the left wears a pale cardigan with six buttons down the front, while the right wears a dark jumper with two buttons on the shoulder and an animal motif at the hem. The jumper on the girl on the right is the same style as NWM-08893. There is tape still affixed to the back of the boardbusiness, business history, manufacturing, knitting machine, fashion textile production, business archives, manufacturing documents, textile industry - history wool marketing, wool marketing fashion textile industry

Twenty page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and colour images. The colour cover features two children wearing knitted jumpers, with two puppets. Illustrations of a snake and possums are also shown on the cover.front: [printed] Patons / Possum's / PATTERN / IN 8 PLY TOTEM / PURE NEW WOOL / 635 / PRICE / CODE / F / the / NEIGHBOURHOOD / Claude the Crow, 'Ol Possum / Norm the Kangaroo, Stanley the Carpet Snake / cPUPPETSTUFF PTY. LTD.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons