Woman's shirt, designed by Digby Morton for The Hathaway Shirt Company, USA, 1952-57

Grey cotton woven with a pale blue satin stripe patterned with a trail of flowers and leaves. The tailored shirt is straight cut with a rolled collar, shoulder yoke, single patch pocket and shaped side vents, which are reinforced with a line of red machine stitching where the side seam opens. The long sleeves have turnback cuffs. The side seams are felled. The shirt closes with to the neck with 4 medium size and one small pearl button. The fullness of the shirt at the front is slightly reduced by a pair of darts from the yoke.

Given by Mrs Marigold Haworth

The shirt was either worn by Katie Gandy or by her sister. Katie Gandy was a friend and work associate of Phyllis Panting who was married to the couturier Digby Morton.

In 1952 the London couturier Digby Morton accepted an invitation from the Hathaway Shirt Company of Maine, USA, to develop a line of 'Lady Hathaway' women's shirts made in cotton and fine wool in traditional British patterns. He was employed as a style consultant. This very successful collaboration continued until 1957. Through his work for Hathaway, Morton became well-versed in American sizing methods and manufacturing processes which benefitted his ready-to-wear lines in Britain.

T.151-2014