Mr. Daren sketches, circa 1940-1949
Scope and Contents
Sketches of suits, dresses, evening wear and bridal wear.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-1949
Creator
- Mr. Daren (1923-1984) (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
Shortly after attending the Wolfe School of Costume Designing in Los Angeles in 1941, Daren Pierce spent time serving in the US armed forces, first in Farragut, Idaho and later at the Naval Training Station on Yerba Buena Island, just off of San Francisco, where he was worked in the Office of Discipline. In his spare time, Pierce designed entire seasonal collections of day, college, evening and bridal wear, sketching in pencil, watercolor and marker. In 1945 after the completion of his wartime duties Pierce presented his work to Dorothy Liebes and she hired him as a textile designer. In the early 1950s, Pierce was employed by the interior and industrial design firm William Pahlmann Associates in New York City, and he became frequently sought out by the press as an authority on interior design. By the 1960s Pierce had been elected President of the American Institute of Decorators, and in this capacity he led design professionals and enthusiasts on tours to study the aesthetics of cultures abroad. In 1965, Pierce, who by now often went simply as “Mr. Daren,” challenged traditional gender roles by opening a high-end needlepoint shop, Woolworks, on Madison Avenue. He went on to publish four books he co-authored on the subjects of needlepoint and the art of mixed cocktails. At 61 years old, Pierce died of cardiac arrest on Tuesday, January 29, 1984.
Full Extent
1 placeholder
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donation of Daren Pierce, 1979 September 17
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, 10002
General
Shortly after attending the Wolfe School of Costume Designing in Los Angeles in 1941, Daren Pierce spent time serving in the US armed forces, first in Farragut, Idaho and later at the Naval Training Station on Yerba Buena Island, just off of San Francisco, where he was worked in the Office of Discipline. In his spare time, Pierce designed entire seasonal collections of day, college, evening and bridal wear, sketching in pencil, watercolor and marker. In 1945 after the completion of his wartime duties Pierce presented his work to Dorothy Liebes and she hired him as a textile designer. In the early 1950s, Pierce was employed by the interior and industrial design firm William Pahlmann Associates in New York City, and he became frequently sought out by the press as an authority on interior design. By the 1960s Pierce had been elected President of the American Institute of Decorators, and in this capacity he led design professionals and enthusiasts on tours to study the aesthetics of cultures abroad. In 1965, Pierce, who by now often went simply as “Mr. Daren,” challenged traditional gender roles by opening a high-end needlepoint shop, Woolworks, on Madison Avenue. He went on to publish four books he co-authored on the subjects of needlepoint and the art of mixed cocktails. At 61 years old, Pierce died of cardiac arrest on Tuesday, January 29, 1984.
General
Published
General
Minimal
General
Shell record
- Title
- Mr. Daren sketches, circa 1940-1949
- Date
- 2025-05-13
- 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