help identifying fabric type & info on Mel Warshaw label

Jennifer Kietzman

Jennifer Kietzman

Registered Guest
Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone could help identify the fabric type of this dress. The fabric feels like taffeta (though not quite as noisy or reflective) and has an embroidered twig/stem/leaf design throughout. I've attached close-up photos of the outside and inside of the fabric. I'm also wondering if anyone knows anything about the label.

Many thanks for your help!

Jenny

warshaw 5.3.JPG warshaw 6.JPG warshaw fabric inside.JPG warshaw fabric outside.JPG
 
I am a bit pressed for time this morning, so I only did a fast search for information for you. All I learned thus far is that Melvin Barry Warshaw was born in New York in 1916 and died in Florida in 1996. In the 1940 census the ca. 25 year old Warshaw was recorded as a designer of men's sportswear. In the 1945 Florida state census his occupation was just recorded as "Designer" on one page of the census and "Merchant" on another. Most of the newspaper references I found to him were from the 1950's and one ad noted Mel Warshaw Inc. was the parent company for Jay Originals and the Trend-Setter label. I also saw that he was involved in a court case regarding labor relations.

I will see if I can find more information when I return later today.
 
lkranieri said:
I am a bit pressed for time this morning, so I only did a fast search for information for you. All I learned thus far is that Melvin Barry Warshaw was born in New York in 1916 and died in Florida in 1996. In the 1940 census the ca. 25 year old Warshaw was recorded as a designer of men's sportswear. In the 1945 Florida state census his occupation was just recorded as "Designer" on one page of the census and "Merchant" on another. Most of the newspaper references I found to him were from the 1950's and one ad noted Mel Warshaw Inc. was the parent company for Jay Originals and the Trend-Setter label. I also saw that he was involved in a court case regarding labor relations.

I will see if I can find more information when I return later today.
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Wow, thanks so much, Lynne! Most (if not all) of the Mel Warshaw Inc. dresses I've found online date from the 50s (as I assume mine does), so the timeline you've detailed makes total sense. Would love to learn more if you have time, but this is more than I even hoped for. Again, thank you!
 
thespectrum said:
Lynne is amazing.

I would call the fabric embroidered taffeta & I do agree with 50s for your pretty dress.
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Thanks for your reply! The person I bought it from id'd the fabric type as jacquard, but embroidered taffeta seems like a better description, in terms of letting people know just what it feels and looks like.
 
lkranieri said:
This won't tell you much that we don't already know, but I found Mel Warshaw's obit. Also, as usual, I ask that you not reprint this (not that you would want this in a sale venue anyway), as it is for educational purposes only...
View attachment 60100
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I definitely won't reprint it. Lovely to read it, though, and lovely to know Grandpa Mel was an "exceptionally gentle man." May we all leave this world with "friends too numerous to name"! Thank you, Lynne!
 
Rue_de_la_Paix said:
Lovely dress. The fabric is most likely an acetate or rayon-acetate blend taffeta.
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Thanks Barbara! In Googling up on jacquard, it seems to me that a taffeta (whether acetate or rayon-acetate blend) could also be a jacquard fabric, ie a jacquard taffeta? Or maybe the embroidery is done by hand? Just wondering aloud, here.
 
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