Florence Eiseman
Florence Eiseman, American fashion designer
Florence Eiseman holding her Gold Needle Award
Source: Mount Mary University Archives
Florence Eiseman (1899-1988) made a substantial impact on children's fashion in the mid- to late twentieth century with her belief that children should be dressed like children, not miniature adults. In 1980 Mount Mary College awarded her the Gold Needle Award, which, according to her daughter-in-law Judith (public relations manager of Florence Eiseman Inc.), "is one that we will treasure in the years to come."
Letter from Judith H. Eiseman to Sister Ellen Lorenz, March 28, 1980,
expressing apprecation for the Gold Needle Award
Source: Mount Mary University Archives
Fashion show program 1981
Source: Mount Mary University Archives
Eiseman's involvement with Mount Mary continued after 1980. Fashion show programs from 1981 through the 2000s indicate that her company, Florence Eiseman Inc., supported Mount Mary's fashion shows financially and as a fabric source. An award given at the fashion shows for "Outstanding Childrens Wear" (later "Best Child's Garment") was sponsored by Florence Eiseman Inc. Several individuals from the Milwaukee-based company offered their time and expertise to the fashion design program, including Sally Baker (patternmaker), Judith Eiseman (public relations), Laurence Eiseman (Florence Eiseman's son; vice president), Vicki Fritsch Mahkorn, and Teri Shapiro. They supervised interns, spoke at the fashion shows, provided field trips, and otherwise helped the program grow and maintain relevance in the industry.
Child's dress (Object ID #2022.04.03) designed by Florence Eiseman and donated to the Fashion Archive by Florence Eiseman Inc.
Source: Mount Mary University Digital Fashion Archive
While Florence Eiseman died in 1988, her influence and that of her company on Mount Mary's fashion design program continued. Her contributions to various scholarships for the program, and after her death the Florence Eiseman Memorial Scholarship funded by her family and others, supported numerous students. She and, later, her estate also donated items she designed and items from her wardrobe to Mount Mary's Fashion Archive for students and others to study and learn from. Many of these have since been digitized for the Digital Fashion Archive in the Florence Eiseman (her designs) and Florence Eiseman Wardrobe exhibits, allowing an even broader audience to benefit from her generosity.
