David Evins sketches
Scope and Contents
This collection holds rough pencil sketches, with cardboard cut-outs from the 1960's and 1970's. A folder of correspondence includes a patent request from David E. Levin. Newspaper clippings and print advertisements are mounted on oversize cardboard.
Dates
- Creation: 1954-1986
Creator
- Evins, David (1906-1991) (Person)
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.
Conditions Governing Use
The Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive does not own copyright for all material held in its physical custody. It is the researcher's obligation to abide by and satisfy copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108) when copying or using materials (including digital materials) found in or made available from the department. When possible, the department will inform a researcher about the copyright status of material, the researcher's obligations with regard to such material, and, wherever possible, the owner or owners of the copyrights. Any and all reproduction of originals is at the archivist's discretion.
Biographical / Historical
David Evins was an English shoe designer and known as the "King of Pumps." He studied illustration at the Pratt Institute and was an illustrator for Vogue prior to being a designer. His specialty was in stylish yet comfortable shoes and garnered a clientele of female film stars and political figures.
David Evins was born in London around 1906. He and his family moved to Brooklyn 16 years later. He graduated from New York University and completed some graduate work at the Pratt Institute. He began his career as a fashion illustrator, working for Vogue just after WWII. Evins practically stumbled into shoe design: after taking liberties when drawing a pair of shoes, his editor fired him, stating that if he liked designing shoes, he should do it for a living. Evins started working as a pattern maker as well as designing for different manufacturers. In 1947, he opened his his own factory with his brother in New York. A year later, Evins was given a Coty Award for creating the "shell pump," a heeled shoe with a low cut top that highlighted more of a woman's foot. Evins acquired a factory in France in the early 1950s and began producing more comfortable and lighter-weight shoes. This lead him to become a favorite of movie and theater actresses. Perhaps the most memorable "Evins shoe moment" on the silver screen came in 1955 when Marilyn Monroe stepped on a subway grate, letting her white dress billow up in the subway breeze (her white strappy pumps were designed by Evins). David Evins passed away on December 28th, 1991.
Full Extent
1 placeholder
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Existence and Location of Originals
The Library of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY , USA, 10011
General
David Evins was an English shoe designer and known as the "King of Pumps." He studied illustration at the Pratt Institute and was an illustrator for Vogue prior to being a designer. His specialty was in stylish yet comfortable shoes and garnered a clientele of female film stars and political figures.
David Evins was born in London around 1906. He and his family moved to Brooklyn 16 years later. He graduated from New York University and completed some graduate work at the Pratt Institute. He began his career as a fashion illustrator, working for Vogue just after WWII. Evins practically stumbled into shoe design: after taking liberties when drawing a pair of shoes, his editor fired him, stating that if he liked designing shoes, he should do it for a living. Evins started working as a pattern maker as well as designing for different manufacturers. In 1947, he opened his his own factory with his brother in New York. A year later, Evins was given a Coty Award for creating the "shell pump," a heeled shoe with a low cut top that highlighted more of a woman's foot. Evins acquired a factory in France in the early 1950s and began producing more comfortable and lighter-weight shoes. This lead him to become a favorite of movie and theater actresses. Perhaps the most memorable "Evins shoe moment" on the silver screen came in 1955 when Marilyn Monroe stepped on a subway grate, letting her white dress billow up in the subway breeze (her white strappy pumps were designed by Evins). David Evins passed away on December 28th, 1991.
General
Published
General
Minimal
General
Shell record
- Title
- David Evins sketches
- Date
- 2025-06-11
- Description rules
- Dacs; Isad(g); Lo C
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository