Summary

This book was written by Janette Fletcher, who was the sales manager for the Swiss sewing machine company Elna, and published by The Herald and Weekly Times in 1972. Covering all practicalities of home sewing, its interest to us lays in the inclusion of three paper patterns for garments designed by Melbourne fashion designer Prue Acton, They include a mini-tunic dress with slacks, a short tunic dress with and without sleeves. The garments are photographed inside and on the front covers. A drawing of a young woman and Prue's logo are featured inside the back cover.

Physical Description

A rectangular book with card covers and 98 glossy pages insides, printed with extensive text, drawings and photographs. The pages are attached by three metal staples along the spine. Three female models wearing Prue Acton designed clothing are featured on the front and back covers. A photograph of the author is on the inside front cover.

Significance

Prue Acton was born in Benalla in 1943, and educated at Fribank Girls Grammar School in Melbourne, After completing a Diploma of Art majoring in textiles at RMIT in 1963, she established her own fashion design business in Flinders Lane, with the support of her parents. Her designs were instantly snapped up by the new youth population, who were earning their own money and wanting their own look. Her real breakthrough occurred on in 1967 when Prue and her mother headed to New York and were successful in finding buyers for her garments.

By the early 1970s, her designs were selling in department stores and boutiques, including her own branded stores, across Australia and America. Her name was so well known that it could be used to sell a budget home sewing book, offering those who would be unable to afford her original outfits to make their own versions and share in her designs. The photographs of the garments on the front cover make it a very displayable item in exhibition or online.

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