Ensemble, woman's day (Dress and Coat)

This ensemble by Norman Hartnell comprises a dress and a matching coat. The sleeveless dress is simple in style, and features a round neckand slight shaping through the use of darts.  The mid-calf length coat is equally simple in style with a round collarless neckline, lack of fastenings to the centre front (apart from a metal hook and thread loop at the upper) and short sleeves. The only decorative feature is a simple tie and fabric loop which are sewn to the upper of each front. The coat is unlined.

Made with the help of seaweed

The ensemble is made from a woollen fabric woven using a water-soluble alginate fibre which has been derived from seaweed. Once dissolved, the alginate fibre leaves open areas - in this case, an openwork check pattern has been created in various shades of green from rich olive through to dark green.

Committed to Wool

Hardy Amies was a member of the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers. Founded in 1942, the Society aimed to promote London as a fashion centre, and increase the prestige of British fashions and fabrics in national and international markets. To this end, the Society frequently worked with the International Wool Secretariat (IWS), which was founded in 1937 by wool growers in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to promote wool. The suit was sent to the New Zealand Wool Board by the IWS to be used in local wool promotions.

Amies once commented, ‘Such success as I have had has been due almost entirely to the successful handling of wool.’