Janet Sloane interview, 1982 December 19, 1982 December 19
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 December 19
Creator
- Sloane, Janet (1914-1996) (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
Janet Sloane was a fashion director who helped to usher in haute couture headwear from Europe to upscale American stores. She was a stylist, scout and vice president of Madcaps Inc., a Manhattan millinery and accessories company founded by her brother and partner, Alfred Z. Solomon, and worked there from the 1940's until the business was sold in 1992. She was among the first to adapt the millinery designs of Givenchy, Yves St. Laurent and other Europeans for the American market. She was a founding member of the Fashion Group International and the Fashion Round Table, two organizations for industry executives, and a member of the Soroptomists, an international women's community service alliance.
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
Janet Sloane was a fashion director who helped to usher in haute couture headwear from Europe to upscale American stores. She was a stylist, scout and vice president of Madcaps Inc., a Manhattan millinery and accessories company founded by her brother and partner, Alfred Z. Solomon, and worked there from the 1940's until the business was sold in 1992. She was among the first to adapt the millinery designs of Givenchy, Yves St. Laurent and other Europeans for the American market. She was a founding member of the Fashion Group International and the Fashion Round Table, two organizations for industry executives, and a member of the Soroptomists, an international women's community service alliance.
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