Horrockses Fashions of the 40s and 50s

catwalkcreative

catwalkcreative

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Just wanted to share a few images from a book I'm reading on Horrockses Fashions. The company was established in 1946 by the well-known Preston (North-West England) cotton manufacturer Horrockses, Crewdson & Co Ltd, as a means of promoting its key product - cotton piece goods. Country Life magazine described its cotton creations as "a revolution in fashion; they have the technical perfection as well as the chic that opens up a new market".

Their success was due to the unusual organization of the company which incorporated cloth production and the finished product via fabric design and fashion styling. Their ready-to-wear clothing and creative designers must have been a breath of fresh air after WWII. They achieved their success by closely following Parisian and London couture styling and adopted some of its sales and promotional practices, by creating fabric designs exclusive to its brand.

This lovely book by Christine Boydell is published by V&A Publishing. Here's a few images - apologies for the poor quality. Enjoy!

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Thanks so much sharing these! I love Horrockses dresses, it's my dream to own one. I saw one at a vintage fair a little while ago, but it was way way out of my price range.

I read somewhere that Horrockses were hugely influential in cotton becoming a desirable fabric, rather being seen as a second rate one.

Ruth
 
Hi Ruth, thanks for your reply. Yes, I'd love to own one too. You just don't come across them very often, but I live in hope. The fabrics and patterns are so yummy aren't they? Still very wearable today. :)
 
They were sold here in Canada as a line through Holt Renfrew, I saw an advert for them a while back, but I have never seen one for sale here in any vintage shop. I guess because they were cotton they were probably worn until faded or damaged and then tossed.
 
Louise -

Thank you for sharing this. I want this book!!! Love all the images. I just checked amazon and they have it so I may have to treat myself. I would wear any and all of the dresses you showed. (If I could find them.) Well -maybe not the mousie jump-rope print...but the yellow and black sundress and the gown- WOW!!! Love seeing the ads, too.

Linn
 
Linn, you will really love this book. It holds a wealth of information and there are so many beautiful images. It was difficult deciding which ones to show here. So glad you're looking into buying this. I'm sure it will be a treasured addition to your book collection. :)
 
Do you know keep meaning to get a copy of that too Louise! Thanks for the reminder. Here are a few I've had, definitely getting scarcer (and pricier) - I wish I still had these, I have another dress and bolero set that I'll probably list in the summer as it's a bit chilly for bare shoulders now....








:)
 
Did any of you get the chance to see the exhibition?

It really was a wonderful culmination of dresses, i met both the curator and a collector who had lent a large number of the dresses for the exhibition. Both of them were so passionate about the brand and I had the lucky opportunity to see some more of the dresses that hadn't been included at the exhibition at vintage@goodwood.

I was also lucky enough to do some volunteer work at the exhibition and met some wonderful older ladies with some fascinating stories to tell about Horrockses. I met some ladies who said they SOLELY wore Horrockses, and others who had worked in the factories sewing the dresses. One of the most outlandish prints, the one with the lobsters, was apparently detested by a large number of the factory workers at the time!

I am a collector of Horrockses too, all i can say to anyone that has never felt one is the quality of the cotton is simply sublime. I have 8 of the beauties all of which have been washed and presses and they all come up looking simply beautiful. They are SUCH a pleasure to wear too, heavy yet not too weighty and still looking incredibly fresh around 60 years after they were made!

Lizzie
 
Thanks for sharing your story Lizzie. The exhibition sounds fabulous and you're so lucky to have so may Horrockses frocks. You must post photos. :)
 
thank you for bumping this up, lizzie. i missed it the first time around. LOVE hearing your stories! must have been so much fun talking with those ladies and getting a personal, first-hand history like that.

sigh, i love horrockses. never have come across one. i suppose not too surprising since i'm on the other side of the pond, but would so love to have one (or a dozen).

these prints are fabulous! thank you, louise, for sharing those photos, and starting this thread :). also thank you to everyone who's posted photos of their horrockses. what great eye candy!
 
At Louise's recommendation I purchased the book. It is every bit as delightful as she said! I would love to see photos of any Horrockses anyone has in their collection or had at one time. I'd love to own one - or several. Love them.

Linn
 
yes of course, when i have a chance, probably over the weekend to be honest, i will be sure to post some pictures. After working at the exhibition i was even able to attribute who designed a number of the prints, which is an added bonus to their story. I'll post some pics of the inside of them too! They are some of the best quality dresses i own...

Honestly though some of the ladies who wore Horrockses were just SO funny, as the dresses were pretty pricey you had to be quite well off to own them at the time, the way they were going on about the C & A knock offs...very funny!!!

for those over the pond, i have a few Jonathan Logan dresses that are of a similar quality...another great 50s label (American) to look out for!
 
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