I was very happy to go back in person to the Autry museum in Griffith park. Every second Tuesday of the month is free, yes I took advantage of that.
The Autry has always been very good at putting exhibits of clothing, jewelry and other wearables. These aren’t high fashion, it’s what everyday people wear, or of course – natives or other minorities.
Interesting Intro.
Then to walk into the actual exhibit and be greeted by this wonderful crank operated Singer sewing machine. This predates the treadle and the need for a whole cabinet. This is simply a table top machine.
If you look at the right side of the photo – yes, they made wall paper out of denim greatly enlarged.
I read all the labels, and groaned at most of them – because these days, one can’t have an exhibit in a museum without a lot of woke interoperation. So can I point out what they missed! Every minority group gets a mention but not the Jews, not Levi Strauss nor the owner of a vintage clothing store in South Gate. Yeah, Jews get to be ignored.
Meanwhile I am impressed with these pants and shirt, both found encrusted in filth in mines in Nevada. This is what Jeans were first used for. This shows you how impressive Jeans are. At least 150 years old, worked to the bone and I can see hipsters today who would wear these in a minute.
Then they celebrated hippies in San Fransisco who decorated the jeans. Ok, I’ll give the hippies the credit for that. A tradition that continues to this day.
Next, the plaid shirt. And here the Pendleton factory gets great mention. I’m pretty sure this was worn by Clint Eastwood in a movie – so both plaid and Western. There were many other examples of how the plaid shirt evolves.
On to Hawaii. Sorry about the glare, I understand why this is behind glass. Oh and in the celebration of Hawaiian quilts (which I love) no mention that no one in Hawaii would make any quilt if the missionaries hadn’t shown up with their traditions.
A close up, you can even see that the red appliqué is wearing thin.
Most of the labels tried to figure out, when is it ok to borrow other cultures traditions and when is it not. So let me just say for the woke folk. If you take from White people – no problem, if a white person takes from a minority – then it’s cultural appropriation.
Love the Hawaiian shirt, have made many for Joel. A Japanese Hawaiian tailor developed it from the basic workers shirt – using leftover fabrics in his shop. Some nice kimono fabric, some just basic fun prints. Later of course many people would develop all kinds of fun Hawaiian fabrics.
A more modern quilt using all those wonderful Hawaiian fabrics.
I took this picture from the back. The different styles of fancy dress in Hawaii. I think my favorite is the 50s’ print.
Final section was fringe. Most of it was on leather clothes, there was a cotton dress, but mostly leather jackets. I will say here we have a wonderful example of two cultures creating something new. The fringe from the native Americans, all those beads – European. Yes, the natives quickly adopted the beads and made it there own – which is great. Years ago and exhibit here at the Autry was happy to mention that – these days – no, that goes against the woke.
Yes, I love the patriotism.
Here is a lovely example of fringe without the beads.
Just love this.
I’m pretty sure this is a ceremonial dress of a Cheyenne chief. Gorgeous. I’m pretty sure that those are bones hanging from the bottom of the tunic. You know, what they used before beads. So kudos to them, use all the traditions available to you.
Had to get a close up of the beading, I’m here for the beading.
So if you are in the LA area, get thee to the Autry. Next post, about another type of clothing, worth seeing.
Leah