Hattie Carnegie

1889 - 1956. Born Henrietta Kanengeiser in Vienna, Austria. The family moved to the USA and changed their name to Carnegie. At fifteen, Carnegie began work at Macy's New York department store, dressing hats. In 1909 she opend a hat shop with a partner who made dresses. Carnegie bought out her partner four years later and took over the clothing design. Although she was unable to sew or draw, she had a talent for communicating her ideas to others, who carried them out. She launched her first collection in 1918, followed by a ready-to-wear collection ten years later. Between the two World Wars she imported many designs from French couturiers and much of her success lay in her ability to translate French fashion sense into American taste. She was widely influential among other designers and employed at various times Claire McCardell, Pauline Trigere

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