Eli Elias interview, 1982 March 25, 1982 March 25
Scope and Contents
The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.
Dates
- Creation: 1982 March 25
Creator
- Elias, Eli (1912-2004) (Person)
- Finger, Mildred (1924-1995) (Person)
Language of Materials
English Latin
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call (212) 217-4385.
The contents of this collection are also available to the public via our Archive on Demand repository: https://archiveondemand.fitnyc.edu/items/browse?collection=22
Biographical / Historical
Eli Elias was born in Rochester, New York on August 2nd 1912. In 1929, Elias moved to New York to work at his uncle's clothing manufacturing factory. Two years later, he became a partner Maybro Sportswear company. Elias left the firm in 1934 to start his own fashion company, Elias Sportswear. Elias worked as president until 1979, passing the company along to his son Richard. That same year, Elias became president of the New York Skirt and Sportswear Association. Elias sat on many fashion council boards, including the Garment Industry Development Corporation, the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the Council for American Fashion. Eli Elias passed away in September of 2004 at the age of 92.
Biographical / Historical
"Mildred Finger Haines ... helped shape fashion tastes for four decades as a top buyer for department stores and a consultant to clothes makers and retailers.... From the late 1940's through the late 1960's, Mrs. Haines, known throughout her career as Mildred Finger, was a buyer of ready-to-wear at Macy's, Ohrbach's and Bergdorf Goodman, and was one of New York City's most often cited taste makers. At Bergdorf's, in particular, she was noted for bringing European styles to American consumers. She later became Vice President of Charles of the Ritz, headed fashion merchandising for Yves St. Laurent and became an independent consultant, with clients like the Limited and Arthur D. Little. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she retired in 1986. In succeeding years, she frequently contributed her knowledge of the fashion industry to the oral history projects of the American Jewish Committee and the Fashion Institute of Technology...." New York Times Obituary, 1995
Full Extent
From the Sub-Group: 1 placeholder
Physical Description
Original media: 1 audio cassette
General
Eli Elias was born in Rochester, New York on August 2nd 1912. In 1929, Elias moved to New York to work at his uncle's clothing manufacturing factory. Two years later, he became a partner Maybro Sportswear company. Elias left the firm in 1934 to start his own fashion company, Elias Sportswear. Elias worked as president until 1979, passing the company along to his son Richard. That same year, Elias became president of the New York Skirt and Sportswear Association. Elias sat on many fashion council boards, including the Garment Industry Development Corporation, the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the Council for American Fashion. Eli Elias passed away in September of 2004 at the age of 92.
General
"Mildred Finger Haines ... helped shape fashion tastes for four decades as a top buyer for department stores and a consultant to clothes makers and retailers.... From the late 1940's through the late 1960's, Mrs. Haines, known throughout her career as Mildred Finger, was a buyer of ready-to-wear at Macy's, Ohrbach's and Bergdorf Goodman, and was one of New York City's most often cited taste makers. At Bergdorf's, in particular, she was noted for bringing European styles to American consumers. She later became Vice President of Charles of the Ritz, headed fashion merchandising for Yves St. Laurent and became an independent consultant, with clients like the Limited and Arthur D. Little. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she retired in 1986. In succeeding years, she frequently contributed her knowledge of the fashion industry to the oral history projects of the American Jewish Committee and the Fashion Institute of Technology...." New York Times Obituary, 1995
General
Published
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository