Leigh Wishner • Pattern Play USA
@patternplayusa.bsky.social
www.patternplayusa.com
If there were such a thing as a "pattern savant"...it me 😎
Obsessed with 20th-c. American design. I write about fabrics 📚🧵🪡✂️🪢🌈✨
If there were such a thing as a "pattern savant"...it me 😎
Obsessed with 20th-c. American design. I write about fabrics 📚🧵🪡✂️🪢🌈✨
Where my fellow textile collectors at? Informal poll: how do you manage your collection? Do you inventory everything using a spreadsheet? Or do you use a collection management database? Do you catalogue each one as it's acquired...
July 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Where my fellow textile collectors at? Informal poll: how do you manage your collection? Do you inventory everything using a spreadsheet? Or do you use a collection management database? Do you catalogue each one as it's acquired...
This series of fabrics was not produced by DWBS, but by P. Kaufmann, who operated Woodco. Thomas had left DWBS by the debut of this "Benin Empire" collection, which she noted were inspired by a collection of 14th-century African sculptures in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
June 19, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This series of fabrics was not produced by DWBS, but by P. Kaufmann, who operated Woodco. Thomas had left DWBS by the debut of this "Benin Empire" collection, which she noted were inspired by a collection of 14th-century African sculptures in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
"I was very excited about the idea. It's hard enough to find a job anyway, especially if you're black, and the idea of doing this kind of work and with other black people really appealed to me. Here I can design anything the way I want. Here, I have real freedom."
June 19, 2025 at 10:12 PM
"I was very excited about the idea. It's hard enough to find a job anyway, especially if you're black, and the idea of doing this kind of work and with other black people really appealed to me. Here I can design anything the way I want. Here, I have real freedom."
A recent flea-market find: 'Hausa' by Calister Thomas for Woodco, 1 of 5 designed by her & copyrighted May 1972. Thomas had been working for a weaving company in Manhattan when dd & Leslie Tillett invited her to be chief designer for the Design Works of Bedford Stuyvesant in 1970. She was only 22!
June 19, 2025 at 10:12 PM
A recent flea-market find: 'Hausa' by Calister Thomas for Woodco, 1 of 5 designed by her & copyrighted May 1972. Thomas had been working for a weaving company in Manhattan when dd & Leslie Tillett invited her to be chief designer for the Design Works of Bedford Stuyvesant in 1970. She was only 22!
Guess the repeat is on this one? Nearly six feet. Six feet!!! It's almost as if photographer Carl Van Vechten was placing human subjects next to Frank's work for scale. One of the most palampore-inspired Frank design, which is reason enough to love it.
June 18, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Guess the repeat is on this one? Nearly six feet. Six feet!!! It's almost as if photographer Carl Van Vechten was placing human subjects next to Frank's work for scale. One of the most palampore-inspired Frank design, which is reason enough to love it.
Carmen de Lavallade (1️⃣2️⃣: dancer/choreographer/actor, 1955), Mattiwilda Dobbs (3️⃣: opera soprano, also 1955), and Chester B. Himes (4️⃣: author, 1962)...and 'Hawaii' by Josef Frank (5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣: designed for Svenkst Tenn while the Austrian-Swede was living in New York in 1943-45).
June 18, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Carmen de Lavallade (1️⃣2️⃣: dancer/choreographer/actor, 1955), Mattiwilda Dobbs (3️⃣: opera soprano, also 1955), and Chester B. Himes (4️⃣: author, 1962)...and 'Hawaii' by Josef Frank (5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣: designed for Svenkst Tenn while the Austrian-Swede was living in New York in 1943-45).
Lurex in ALLLLL the colors ✨🌈🧶
Possibly the best Lurex ad in "The Thread of the Story is #Lurex" campaign (American Fabrics mag, Spring 1959).
I am never not thinking about Lurex.
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#dorothyliebes #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textilehistory #designhistory
Possibly the best Lurex ad in "The Thread of the Story is #Lurex" campaign (American Fabrics mag, Spring 1959).
I am never not thinking about Lurex.
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#dorothyliebes #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textilehistory #designhistory
June 14, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Lurex in ALLLLL the colors ✨🌈🧶
Possibly the best Lurex ad in "The Thread of the Story is #Lurex" campaign (American Fabrics mag, Spring 1959).
I am never not thinking about Lurex.
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#dorothyliebes #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textilehistory #designhistory
Possibly the best Lurex ad in "The Thread of the Story is #Lurex" campaign (American Fabrics mag, Spring 1959).
I am never not thinking about Lurex.
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#dorothyliebes #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textilehistory #designhistory
I hear French girl summer is a thing…🍇🍋🍉🍐🍒
‘Left Bank’ by Greeff, c. 1950, my collection 🩵
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#frenchgirlsummer #picnic #piquenique #picnicchic #greeff #leftbank #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #americandesign #noveltyprint #vintagenoveltyprint
‘Left Bank’ by Greeff, c. 1950, my collection 🩵
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#frenchgirlsummer #picnic #piquenique #picnicchic #greeff #leftbank #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #americandesign #noveltyprint #vintagenoveltyprint
June 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I hear French girl summer is a thing…🍇🍋🍉🍐🍒
‘Left Bank’ by Greeff, c. 1950, my collection 🩵
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#frenchgirlsummer #picnic #piquenique #picnicchic #greeff #leftbank #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #americandesign #noveltyprint #vintagenoveltyprint
‘Left Bank’ by Greeff, c. 1950, my collection 🩵
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#frenchgirlsummer #picnic #piquenique #picnicchic #greeff #leftbank #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #americandesign #noveltyprint #vintagenoveltyprint
The swimsuit that went to war...by Cole of California, 1943-1945. In a range of colors and, yes, patterns, but it's tough not to choose "Parachute White" for D-Day...
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#dday #coleofcalifornia #patriotic #americana #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory
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#dday #coleofcalifornia #patriotic #americana #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory
June 6, 2025 at 10:05 PM
The swimsuit that went to war...by Cole of California, 1943-1945. In a range of colors and, yes, patterns, but it's tough not to choose "Parachute White" for D-Day...
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#dday #coleofcalifornia #patriotic #americana #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory
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#dday #coleofcalifornia #patriotic #americana #patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory
And party clothes for Alexander Girard’s birthday today are provided by @gitmanvintage 🥳 who have released one of my favorite Girard designs, 'Cutouts’ (1954) in a brilliant (and true to the designer’s color sense) coral colorway...
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@girardstudio #alexandergirard #patternplayusa
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@girardstudio #alexandergirard #patternplayusa
May 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
And party clothes for Alexander Girard’s birthday today are provided by @gitmanvintage 🥳 who have released one of my favorite Girard designs, 'Cutouts’ (1954) in a brilliant (and true to the designer’s color sense) coral colorway...
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@girardstudio #alexandergirard #patternplayusa
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@girardstudio #alexandergirard #patternplayusa
—was preceded by a color slide show of the fabrics used and the artworks from which the designs were derived. Wesley Simpson’s textiles comprised the second group shown; McCardell led with a halter-neck dress, followed by a playsuit with “umbrella-shaped shorts" under a sleeveless tunic coat.”
May 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
—was preceded by a color slide show of the fabrics used and the artworks from which the designs were derived. Wesley Simpson’s textiles comprised the second group shown; McCardell led with a halter-neck dress, followed by a playsuit with “umbrella-shaped shorts" under a sleeveless tunic coat.”
Claire McCardell of Townley Frocks, Inc. was the designer paired with Bemelmans’s print for two creations premiered in a “fashion promenade” for the in the central hall of the Morgan Wing on March 20, 1945. Each grouping of garments—five in total, encompassing 34 distinctive day and evening looks
May 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Claire McCardell of Townley Frocks, Inc. was the designer paired with Bemelmans’s print for two creations premiered in a “fashion promenade” for the in the central hall of the Morgan Wing on March 20, 1945. Each grouping of garments—five in total, encompassing 34 distinctive day and evening looks
Bemelmans’s original sketch for this pattern is also shown. Simpson asked Bemelmans to contribute designs based on Metropolitan Museum of Art artifacts, which where then shown in the museum's 1945 show, “American Fashions and Fabrics.”
May 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Bemelmans’s original sketch for this pattern is also shown. Simpson asked Bemelmans to contribute designs based on Metropolitan Museum of Art artifacts, which where then shown in the museum's 1945 show, “American Fashions and Fabrics.”
specifically, a large buff-colored jar purchased from Egyptologist Howard Carter. It was produced on ribbed cotton and a drapey, slubbed rayon “shantung,” as is the green example (@coraginsburg) manufactured by the North-Carolina based Enka firm, which promoted its innovative synthetic fibers.
May 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
specifically, a large buff-colored jar purchased from Egyptologist Howard Carter. It was produced on ribbed cotton and a drapey, slubbed rayon “shantung,” as is the green example (@coraginsburg) manufactured by the North-Carolina based Enka firm, which promoted its innovative synthetic fibers.
Claire McCardell's birthday deserves a special story, so let's invite #LudwigBemelmans (of Madeline fame) and #WesleySimpson (of art fabric fame) to the party! 🎉
Bemelmans’s Dynasty pattern (also called Pottery) is based on predynastic Egyptian pottery of the Late Naqada period (ca. 3500-3300 BCE)
Bemelmans’s Dynasty pattern (also called Pottery) is based on predynastic Egyptian pottery of the Late Naqada period (ca. 3500-3300 BCE)
May 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Claire McCardell's birthday deserves a special story, so let's invite #LudwigBemelmans (of Madeline fame) and #WesleySimpson (of art fabric fame) to the party! 🎉
Bemelmans’s Dynasty pattern (also called Pottery) is based on predynastic Egyptian pottery of the Late Naqada period (ca. 3500-3300 BCE)
Bemelmans’s Dynasty pattern (also called Pottery) is based on predynastic Egyptian pottery of the Late Naqada period (ca. 3500-3300 BCE)
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Rainbow strié on cotton duck for #NationalTextileDay...a Tillett specialty, those hand pulled stripes-on-stripes. Enjoy the riiiiiiiiiiiiide!
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#patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #ddandleslietillett #thetilletts #textiledesigner #rainbow
Rainbow strié on cotton duck for #NationalTextileDay...a Tillett specialty, those hand pulled stripes-on-stripes. Enjoy the riiiiiiiiiiiiide!
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#patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #ddandleslietillett #thetilletts #textiledesigner #rainbow
May 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
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Rainbow strié on cotton duck for #NationalTextileDay...a Tillett specialty, those hand pulled stripes-on-stripes. Enjoy the riiiiiiiiiiiiide!
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#patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #ddandleslietillett #thetilletts #textiledesigner #rainbow
Rainbow strié on cotton duck for #NationalTextileDay...a Tillett specialty, those hand pulled stripes-on-stripes. Enjoy the riiiiiiiiiiiiide!
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#patternplayusa #20thcenturydesign #textiledesign #textilehistory #designhistory #ddandleslietillett #thetilletts #textiledesigner #rainbow
Join me for this free virtual presentation! Register at link below.
🌈Dorothy Liebes: Modern Fashion’s Starchitect
📅 Tuesday, April 1
⏰6:00-7:00pm CDT
Presented by Leigh Wishner
www.patternplayusa.com
www.mononaterrace.com/event-group/...
🌈Dorothy Liebes: Modern Fashion’s Starchitect
📅 Tuesday, April 1
⏰6:00-7:00pm CDT
Presented by Leigh Wishner
www.patternplayusa.com
www.mononaterrace.com/event-group/...
March 26, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Join me for this free virtual presentation! Register at link below.
🌈Dorothy Liebes: Modern Fashion’s Starchitect
📅 Tuesday, April 1
⏰6:00-7:00pm CDT
Presented by Leigh Wishner
www.patternplayusa.com
www.mononaterrace.com/event-group/...
🌈Dorothy Liebes: Modern Fashion’s Starchitect
📅 Tuesday, April 1
⏰6:00-7:00pm CDT
Presented by Leigh Wishner
www.patternplayusa.com
www.mononaterrace.com/event-group/...
This pattern is special to me because it was the first to spark my realization that sometimes a novelty subject (here, IBM magnetic computer memory storage disks) transcends category by sheer mastery of modernist sensibility.
www.ibm.com/history/magn...
www.ibm.com/history/magn...
March 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
This pattern is special to me because it was the first to spark my realization that sometimes a novelty subject (here, IBM magnetic computer memory storage disks) transcends category by sheer mastery of modernist sensibility.
www.ibm.com/history/magn...
www.ibm.com/history/magn...
‘IBM Disks’ ☢️
This was designed by Angelo Testa as a corporate commission from IBM. He hand-screen-printed at least two designs for IBM, this and another using the famous font logo designed by #PaulRand.
This was designed by Angelo Testa as a corporate commission from IBM. He hand-screen-printed at least two designs for IBM, this and another using the famous font logo designed by #PaulRand.
March 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
‘IBM Disks’ ☢️
This was designed by Angelo Testa as a corporate commission from IBM. He hand-screen-printed at least two designs for IBM, this and another using the famous font logo designed by #PaulRand.
This was designed by Angelo Testa as a corporate commission from IBM. He hand-screen-printed at least two designs for IBM, this and another using the famous font logo designed by #PaulRand.
BIG NEWS! 📢
I've been asked to author a book on d.d. & Leslie Tillett. Pinch me as I feel I'm still dreaming about this. I'll be working closely with Seth Tillett to make this worthy of his parents' aesthetics. Stay tuned for more details.
#ddandleslietillett #ddtillett #leslietillett
I've been asked to author a book on d.d. & Leslie Tillett. Pinch me as I feel I'm still dreaming about this. I'll be working closely with Seth Tillett to make this worthy of his parents' aesthetics. Stay tuned for more details.
#ddandleslietillett #ddtillett #leslietillett
March 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
BIG NEWS! 📢
I've been asked to author a book on d.d. & Leslie Tillett. Pinch me as I feel I'm still dreaming about this. I'll be working closely with Seth Tillett to make this worthy of his parents' aesthetics. Stay tuned for more details.
#ddandleslietillett #ddtillett #leslietillett
I've been asked to author a book on d.d. & Leslie Tillett. Pinch me as I feel I'm still dreaming about this. I'll be working closely with Seth Tillett to make this worthy of his parents' aesthetics. Stay tuned for more details.
#ddandleslietillett #ddtillett #leslietillett