Tomchin, Julian (1932-2022)

Person

Dates

Existence: 1932 - 2022

Biography

Julian Tomchin was a multitalented textile designer and artist, with a career spanning fashion textiles to home decor. Born in Brooklyn in 1932, he fell in love with textile design while studying at Manhattan's High School of Music and Art. After receiving a degree in fine arts from Syracuse University, Tomchin began his career as a vice president at Maxwell Industries overseeing their textile divisions; he later partnered with department stores such as Bloomingdale's before starting his own company. Tomchin applied the same "pure romance" design ideology to textiles whether they were draped on a body or upholstering a chair; notable women such as Elizabeth Taylor and Jean Shrimpton wore his designs, while others are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tomchin is the only textile designer to win the prestigious Coty award; other accolades include the Vogue American Fabric Design award.

Citation:

Feitelberg, Rosemary. “Julian Tomchin, Multidimensional Talent, Dies at 90.” WWD, WWD, 29 Dec. 2022, wwd.com/eye/people/julian-tomchin-coty-winning-textile-designer-dies-at-1235457454/.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Billy Baldwin and Julian Tomchin scrapbook

Collection — Box 1

Identifier: SC.414

Scope and Contents This collection contains one item only, a scrapbook created in 1976 with black and white photographs, invitation cards and newspaper clippings, which focuses almost solely on events pertaining to the introduction of a line of sheets that Baldwin designed for Wamsutta / Sanger Harris. Clippings are all from local Dallas, TX newspapers, and consist of advertisements for the sheets and interviews with Baldwin. The bulk of the photographs document two receptions held in the area to celebrate the...

Dates: Oct - Nov 1976

Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive

Julian Tomchin, 1966-1972, 1966-1972

folder

Identifier: SC.214.2.712

Scope and Contents

This folder contains press clippings, 8x10" black and white portraits of Julian Tomchin, and bios of Julian Tomchin.

Dates: 1966-1972

Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Eleanor Lambert collection, 1942-2003 / Eleanor Lambert Designer Files, 1942-2002

Julian Tomchin interview, 1986 November, 1986 November

Item

Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.3.9

Scope and Contents This conversation has three main components: first, Tomchin discusses his work in the home furnishings department, consolidating the department into one cohesive collection under the guidance of a fashion director, similar to the structure of the clothing departments. This allowed the department to present more fully developed design ideas to the customer, encouraging the customer to work as her own decorator, just as the fashion departments allowed her to be her own stylist. Next, Tomchin...

Dates: 1986 November

Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Academic Affairs records / Gladys Marcus Library records / Special Collections and FIT Archive / FIT oral histories collection / The Bloomingdale's interviews, 1986 November 5-1987 January 16

More about 'Tomchin, Julian (1932-2022)'

Related Names

Bloomingdale's (Firm) (Associative with Related)

Description

Julian Tomchin joined Bloomingdale's in 1978 with the intention of centralizing the home furnishings department under one director, modeling the position after the familiar Fashion Director role in the clothing departments. Additionally, Tomchin was tasked with developing Bloomingdale's exclusive merchandise for the home furnishings department. As of 1986, Tomchin was Bloomingdale's Senior VP Fashion Director of Home Furnishings and Cosmetics and had been with the company for 8 years.

Dates

1978 - 1986