lundi 17 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.

Her well known philosophy was that one should see the child first and not the clothing. Clothes should simply highlight the natural beauty of a child. Generations of children dressed in her designs confirm that she was right about this. Celebrities like members of the Kennedy family, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Grace of Monaco dressed their children in her clothes.

It was also her use of bright, clear colors instead of the popular pastel pinks and blues that drew attention. The use of appliques in whimsical shapes like flowers, animals and butterflies became a signature of her designs. The straight, uninterrupted lines of dresses without waistlines flowed smoothly and allowed freedom of movement. Her influence on fashion for children was recognized when she received the Nieman Marcus award in 1955.

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 right outfit for every child and occasion can be found amongst the Florence Eiseman collection. Since the first collection was presented in 1945, the brand has received countless awards and continues to impress with its careful attention to detail. The classic designs are perfect for creating memories and may even be passed down from generation to generation.




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