The Dispo Kid

Paper Dress
1967 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Scoop-necked sleeveless flared shift dress of white vilene printed with stylised daisies in shocking pink, with a matching pink ribbon bow and streamers at the centre neck front. The armholes and neck are bound with white bias binding.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Dispo Kid (series title)
Materials and techniques
Bonded cellulose fibre with printed design
Brief description
White sleeveless flared dress printed with stylised daisies in shocking pink, with a pink ribbon bow at the neck front. Made by Diane Meyersohn as part of a range called 'The Dispo Kid'; UK, 1967
Physical description
Scoop-necked sleeveless flared shift dress of white vilene printed with stylised daisies in shocking pink, with a matching pink ribbon bow and streamers at the centre neck front. The armholes and neck are bound with white bias binding.
Dimensions
  • Height: 498mm
  • Width: 312mm
  • Depth: 310mm
Measured lying flat. Hem was 475 in width Other: box - Ht. 26.5cm x 8.2cm x 8cm
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
(01/07/2023)
Paper dresses

When they were sold, these dresses (above) were described as paper dresses, to be worn once and disposed of. But they are actually made of a polypropylene textile. This is made up of plastic threads and won’t biodegrade, unlike real paper.

In the late 1960s, fashion designers experimented with new lots of new materials without much thought for the environment.

Designer: Diane Meyersohn for Dispo
Date: 1967
Location: UK
Materials: Vilene
Given by Diane Meyersohn
Museum nos. MISC.21, 22, 23-1988

[Young V&A, Design Gallery, Design makes things last longer, long object label]
Credit line
Given by Diane Meyersohn
Object history
Given by Diane Meyersohn [86/2141A] as part of a collection of similar items. The dresses were designed by the donor, made up in Brick Lane, and marketed by her under the label 'The Dispo Kid' from premises in Riding House Street, London. Meyersohn felt that, although sold worldwide, the children's ranage was not as successful as it might have been: the vilene used to make them is inflammable, and major stores refused to sell the garments because of this.

Condition note on entry to the museum: 'one or two small stains, otherwise good'
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
MISC.21-1988

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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