Troy, Seymour

Person

Biography

Seymour Troy, born in the textile city of Lodz, Poland, migrated to the United States as a child in 1910. He financed his way through school by selling shoes, and by 1923 he had saved enough money to open his own small factory. For his first firm, Troy chose the name "yrto" (an anagram of his name) in order to give the brand a European sound. Eventually, Troy produced custom shoes under the name Seymour Troy Originals, as well as a ready-made collection under the name Troylings.

In 1960, the National Shoe Retail Association gave Seymour Troy the first annual “Mercury” award to honor him for 35 plus years in the business and numerous valuable contributions to the footwear field. His contributions throughout the years include the asymmetrical strap silhouette; the open sandal; the rolled top opera pump; the baby doll toe; the platform sole; the use of elasticized leathers and vinyl and Lucite in shoes; and the “Valkyrie” – a series of shoes with high-rising instep cover that outdid the classic opera pump in popularity in the 1930s.

Troy passed away in 1975.

Found in 44 Collections and/or Records:

Sketches, 1936-1977, 1936-1977

Sub-Series

Identifier: SC.105.1.1

Scope and Contents

This sub-series contains sketches of shoes by both Seymour Troy and other designers for Seymour Troy. Most of the sketches are loose but there were also a number of sketchbooks, most of which have been disbound. Almost all of the sketches are undated.

Dates: 1936-1977

Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Seymour Troy collection, 1936-1977, bulk 1936-1940 / Sketches and shoe patterns

Sketches and shoe patterns, 1936-1977

Series

Identifier: SC.105.1

Scope and Contents

This series consists of sketches of shoes and shoe patterns cut out of paper, cardstock, cardboard, and fabric. Some sketches and patterns are accompanied by embellishments such as leather samples and tassels. Previous documentation noted that some of the sketches in the collection were designed by other designers for Seymour Troy, and specifically named Emery Blau, Al Lewis, and "Cohen." Almost all sketches and patterns are undated.

Dates: 1936-1977

Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Seymour Troy collection, 1936-1977, bulk 1936-1940