Fri 10/17
Western Reserve Historical Society’s new exhibit, titled American Dream: Immigrants and the Business of Fashion, takes a look behind the scenes of the fashion industry, looking at how an often underrecognized group of fashion entrepreneurs impacted American fashion in the early 20th century.
That was an era when the Paris was the center of the fashion universe and America was a distant also-ran. And these “fashionistas,” to use a modern term, came from three “out” groups: they were women, they were Jewish, and they were immigrants. But their creativity, the entrepreneurial visions and their determination made an impact on how women dressed.
The featured designers include Hattie Carnegie (1886-1956) and Pauline Trigère (1908-2002) who were relatively well known, and Nettie Rosenstein (1890-1980) and Irene Zerner Gothé (1906-1986), who were much less so. The show features garments from the 1930s through the 1980s, including those worn by women in Northeast Ohio. The exhibit is supported by Cindy Halle & friends – Halle worked with Trigère during her career.
WRHS is noted for its comprehensive, educational exhibits on fashion, based on having one of the largest costume collections in the country. This show, which opens Friday October 17, will be on view through September 6, 2026, and is included in regular museum admission.