ArtWear was held on May 5th at the University Union. This annual juried fashion show features the designs of the graduating seniors in the Fashion Design program in UNT’s College of Visual Arts and Design. The event has been held for more than 30 years and is sponsored by Neiman Marcus.

For more photos from ArtWear, please click here.

Former TFC employee Jarrod Roach, recipient of the Golden Scissors Award

Joe Barentine, a docent at Fashion on Main, recently donated this piece by Jean Paul Gaultier to the TFC.

Gift of Joe Barentine, III in memory of his father Joe P. Barentine, Jr.

In 1966, Scott Paper Company began marketing paper dresses to customers for $1.25, and included coupons for Scott paper products along with the purchase. Some of the dresses matched the companies’ napkins and tablecloths and were so popular that half-a-million dresses were sold within a year. Other companies also began producing paper dresses and sold them in department stores for as much as $8.00. However, the paper dress fad ended in 1968 due to their impracticality.

These two garments from the Texas Fashion Collection are typical of the bold, bright colors and garish prints often utilized for these products.

Display in the University Union of paper dresses from the 1960s

Far Left:

Jumpsuit of multicolored horizontal striped rayon fiber paper with sleeveless, empire bodice and wide legged palazzo pants with vertical stripes. Hemming was unnecessary, as garments could simply be cut to size. From Change-In-Time Boutique (Dallas, TX)

Left:

Dress of multicolored rayon fiber paper in a psychedelic print. One of the downsides of paper dresses was their highly flammable nature. This dress, however, was given a flame resistant coating. From Candy Wrappers/ Mallory Corporation (Dallas, TX). Gift of David L. George, Mallory Corporation President.