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B. H. Wragge collection, 1940-1971

 Collection
Identifier: SC.27

Scope and Contents

Sketches, photographs, tear sheets, publicity and promotional material, production records, press clippings, magazine covers and editorial tear sheets, slides, and line sheets relating to the B. H. Wragge company. Also includes biographical information on Sydney Wragge.

Dates

  • Creation: 1940-1971

Creator

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

Sydney Wragge, born Sydney Goldstein, was born on March 10, 1908 and attended college at New York University. “Early in his career, Mr. Wragge bought B. H. Wragge, a custom shirt house, adopted the company’s name as his own, turned it into a manufacturing company and added skirts to the line. He was a pioneer in the field of sportswear, credited with introducing the concept of modern separates. He was an early proponent of the sleeveless sheath dress, the jumper dress and the summer dress with slit sides. He retired in the early 1970s, with two Coty awards, the Neiman-Marcus Award, and a number of Sports Illustrated awards.” He was also one of the founding members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and served as its first president. (Biographical information on Sydney Wragge derived from the B. H. Wragge collection accession folder)

Biographical / Historical

B.H. Wragge Co. was founded in 1925 and was acquired by Sidney Wragge in 1931. Sidney, born in 1908 in Brooklyn, acted as the president and head designer until 1971 when the company folded (Sidney took the last name Wragge as his own). The company was known for its "All American," mix-and-match separates. Not only winning the COTY award twice, Sidney Wragge served as the first CFDA president from 1962 until 1965.

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, 10006

General

Sydney Wragge, born Sydney Goldstein, was born on March 10, 1908 and attended college at New York University. “Early in his career, Mr. Wragge bought B. H. Wragge, a custom shirt house, adopted the company’s name as his own, turned it into a manufacturing company and added skirts to the line. He was a pioneer in the field of sportswear, credited with introducing the concept of modern separates. He was an early proponent of the sleeveless sheath dress, the jumper dress and the summer dress with slit sides. He retired in the early 1970s, with two Coty awards, the Neiman-Marcus Award, and a number of Sports Illustrated awards.” He was also one of the founding members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and served as its first president. (Biographical information on Sydney Wragge derived from the B. H. Wragge collection accession folder)

General

B.H. Wragge Co. was founded in 1925 and was acquired by Sidney Wragge in 1931. Sidney, born in 1908 in Brooklyn, acted as the president and head designer until 1971 when the company folded (Sidney took the last name Wragge as his own). The company was known for its "All American," mix-and-match separates. Not only winning the COTY award twice, Sidney Wragge served as the first CFDA president from 1962 until 1965.

General

Published

General

Minimal

General

Shell record

Title
B. H. Wragge collection, 1940-1971
Date
2025-05-12
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

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