Help with dating and any information on this clothing label

Gudrun

Gudrun

Registered Guest
I’m coming up empty handed in my search for info on this virji label. The two piece wool suit is well made. Both pieces fully lined. Style seems vintage to me with the bolero type cropped jacket and interesting skirt design.
Identical labels on both pieces with the exception of the skirt shown as size 8 rather than Small. Label under the 100% Wool tag says Dry Clean Only. No other labels (country of origin, etc.)
Hoping for help with dating and additional information on this label and outfit. Thanks!!
Photoroom_004_20250306_173256.jpeg
Photoroom_003_20250306_173256.jpeg
Photoroom_002_20250306_173256.jpeg
Photoroom_000_20250306_173256.jpeg
 
Here is a bit from a 1986 article: "Virginia K. Wright isn't a top-name fashion designer--yet. Working quietly from her Camp Hill residence and from her church basement, she has put together an impressive fall/winter collection which will be carried soon...in...boutiques in Lancaster, Washington, and Philadelphia. The line is called "Virji," which is also the designer's nickname."

I'll see what else I can find.
 
The Vintage Vendeuse said:
I've no info on "virji" but the labeling looks fairly recent.
Are the fabrics of the two pieces different? They look like different weaves and colors.
Click to expand...
The fabrics are different. Both wool but jacket is a coarser weave tweed. Skirt is a fine weave. I wasn’t sure about them being a set at first however the lining color on both are identical. Skirt is a bit more brownish taupe than it appears in my photos.
 
Further into the 1986 article about Virginia Wright and Virji it says: "I'm looking to sell my line to those boutiques looking for something new, something different, something fresh. I don't want to mass market several thousands (of ) garments. I'd rather be a designer for the exclusive woman who wants an original. My fashion line is like art, one of a kind."

I think this sketch by her looks a lot like your jacket....
 

Attachments

  • VirjiJacketSketch1986.jpg
    VirjiJacketSketch1986.jpg
    28.7 KB · Views: 17
Last edited:
lkranieri said:
Further into the 1986 article about Virginia Wright and Virji it says: "I'm looking to sell my line to those boutiques looking for something new, something different, something fresh. I don't want to mass market several thousands (of ) garments. I'd rather be a designer for the exclusive woman who wants an original. My fashion line is like art, one of a kind."

I think this sketch by her looks a lot like your jacket....
Click to expand...
It sure does! Thank you so much :)
I have learned that the business, under the name Virji, was registered with the State of Pennsylvania in November 1986, and has the owner listed as Donald L. Wright of Camp Hill PA. The trail seems to end there for me.
May I ask what search criteria you used to come across the article? Or what publication it is from?
I’m curious now to learn more about her.
 
lkranieri said:
Donald L. Wright was Virginia's husband and the information I gathered was from a newspapers.com subscription database. I believe you can also access the newspapers through an Ancestry.com description.
Click to expand...
Oh, and in answer to your search-terms question, I usually start my searches with terms related to the item I am researching, then if I get very few results I will broaden the search. So, for instance, I don't remember exactly how I did this search, but I believe I started with "Virji" and "fashion" so I would more likely get clothing-related hits, because I found there was some unrelated Virji-something business.

When I eventually found the article I cited here first, I then searched on "Virginia K. Wright" and "Virji" but when that got me few results, I searched on just "Virginia Wright" and "Virji." From there I might have just searched on "Wright" and "Virji," to cast a broader net.

BTW, I am guessing Virji wasn't in business long, as I didn't find much after the period in which we first found her.
 
Last edited:
lkranieri said:
Oh, and in answer to your search-terms question, I usually start my searches with terms related to the item I am researching, then if I get very few results I will broaden the search. So, for instance, I don't remember exactly how I did this search, but I believe I started with "Virgi" and "fashion" so I would more likely get clothing-related hits, because I found there was some unrelated Virgi-something business.

When I eventually found the article I cited here first, I then searched on "Virginia K. Wright" and "Virji" but when that got me few results, I searched on just "Virginia Wright" and "Virji." From there I might have just searched on "Wright" and "Virji," to cast a broader net.

BTW, I am guessing Virji wasn't in business long, as I didn't find much after the period in which we first found her.
Click to expand...
The subscription service sounds like a great tool. I started my initial search in much the same manner although it came up with nothing until you were able to provide her name. Thanks for the tips! I’m glad to have learned something about the label and appreciate your help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top