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Ascher
Zika Ascher (1910). English fabric designer and manufacturer, born in Prague. In the 1930s he emigrated to England with his wife Lida. She worked as a designer for fashion houses such as Molyneux, while Zika opened in London in 1942,…
Antoni & Alison
English brand of women’s wear. It was founded by Antoni Burakowski and Alison Roberts in order to market T-“shirts carrying ironic and surreal slogans. The T-“shirts quickly became a cult item and very much sought after, especially as they were…
Antoine
(1884-1977). Hair stylist. Born in Poland, Antek Cierplikowski began his career as a hair stylist while still in his teens at a prominent Warsaw salon. He emigrated to France and landed his first important apprenticeship at Calloux, one of the…
Anorak
Hooded jacket, originally made of sealskin, worn by Eskimos, in whose language the word anorak means wind. Over time it has become the most popular item of wind-proof casual wear, now manufactured with high-tech fabrics. The big pocket in front…
Arcando
Alessio (1897). Italian shoemaker. After working as a model cutter for the master shoemakers Marchesi and Bergamaschi, he opened his own shop in 1919. During the 1920s and 1930s, his customers were at first dandies and the smart set, and…
Araki
Nobuyoshi (1940). Japanese photographer born in Tokyo, the fifth of seven children. In 1963, after graduating in Engineering from the Univ. of Chiba with a concentration in photography and cinematography, he was hired by the advertising agency Dentsu, where he…
Agnona
AGNONA An Italian wool producer. In a consortium with another Italian firm and a Peruvian firm. Index About Collection Home furnishing About Agnona took its name from a village at the foot of Monte Rosa. The company was founded by Francesco…
Army surplus
Those who have never walked through a market selling second-hand goods, or army surplus merchandise, on the model of the one in Livorno will never know how important the surplus jackets, trousers, and heavy boots of the American military wardrobe…
AAMA
AAMA (American Apparel Manufacturers Association). An association of American clothing manufacturers. Informs members of new technologies and works on industry-wide problems. Includes more than two thirds of the manufacturing companies in the U.S. and is active in every part of…
Avolio
Giorgio. Milanese tailor. He exhibited, together with Bertoli and Pucci, at the Tessitrice dell’Isola, the fashion boutique at the first show organized by Giorgini in Florence at the birth of Italian fashion on February 12, 1951. His style was completely…
