Geometric blouse and skirt ensemble

In 1953 Gus Fisher, owner of the Auckland label El Jay, became the licensee for Christian Dior. This gave him the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Christian Dior originals and Christian Dior prêt a porter in the New Zealand market. Each year Gus would travel to Paris to the designer shows to make a selection of Dior garments that he felt would sell well in the New Zealand market. The patterns, with specific cut and make instructions, in French, together with the original fabrics and notions, would be supplied to the Dior workroom at the El Jay factory in Auckland where they were faithfully reproduced. They were then sold around the country in high end boutiques and through the prestigious department stores. Read more about Gus Fisher and the El Jay label in the New Zealand Fashion Museum publication Looking Terrific: The story of El Jay.

Details

Credit: Garment loan courtesy of Stephanie King, Painted Bird NZ
Copyright: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 Licence
Designer: Marc Bohan
Manufacturing location: Auckland
Garment type: Blouse, skirt
Material: Polyester
Features: The blouse has a ruffled collar and cuffs and self-covered buttons. The tulip shaped skirt has side tucks at the waistline and diagonal pockets.
Label: Christian Dior Prêt-à-porter by El Jay
Date: 1983