Paper Dress thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Paper Dress

1966 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Paper dresses were a brief but spectacular 1960s sensation. They were cheap and disposable, and the simple 2-D shape was ideal for the bold graphic prints that were so fashionable.

In 1966 the Draper's Record announced that Ossie Clark had launched Britain's first range of throwaway dresses. The floral design, by Celia Birtwell, was printed onto imitation paper made by Johnson and Johnson, formed from bonded textile fibres. The wholesale price was 15 shillings.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Printed paper
Brief description
Mini-dress of printed paper, designed by Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell for Ascher Ltd., made by Ascher Ltd, Great Britain, 1966
Physical description
Mini-dress of printed paper.
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 840mm (Note: bust)
  • Circumference: 850mm (Note: waist)
  • Length: 925mm
  • Width: 345mm (Note: shoulder to shoulder seam)
Credit line
Given by Zika Ascher
Production
Designed for Ascher
Summary
Paper dresses were a brief but spectacular 1960s sensation. They were cheap and disposable, and the simple 2-D shape was ideal for the bold graphic prints that were so fashionable.

In 1966 the Draper's Record announced that Ossie Clark had launched Britain's first range of throwaway dresses. The floral design, by Celia Birtwell, was printed onto imitation paper made by Johnson and Johnson, formed from bonded textile fibres. The wholesale price was 15 shillings.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
T.261-1988

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Record createdMarch 16, 2006
Record URL
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