Quality is never an accident….
September 2024
… it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution" John Ruskin
…and this Pinkham blouse exemplifies this saying and typifies the company’s consistent focus on quality. As Leslie Pinkham said of Pinkham gloves “Quality that’s obvious”.
Made in the early 1960s it was uncovered in a charity shop in Didcot, Oxfordshire and thanks to Ruth Knight it has found its way ‘home’ to the collection.
Ruth said
"As soon as I saw it I knew I had to buy it. The blouse looked unique and completely charming. It was only after reaching out to the Pinkham Gloves website and the collection that I learned its history having never heard of Pinkham gloves before."
One of only two blouses in the collection (the other made its way to the collection in 2023) and featured in the news blog in May of that year https://pinkhamgloves.co.uk/fashion-beyond-gloves/
This black velvet and rayon blouse is a rare find and stands out for many reasons: Used to making gloves from fine nylon and rayon fabrics the company’s production capability was easily switched to blouses as the sewing machines used for making gloves could also be used for these fine blouses and the skills of the machinists were already well proven.
The ethos ‘only the best will do’ which permeated the company throughout its history is seen here with delicate stitching and fine design and a combination of rayon and crushed velvet. Topped-off with a magnificent velvet covered button which has paste stones around its edge.
It appears to never have been worn or washed and is in ‘as new’ condition. If it could only tell us its back story, that would be fascinating.
Blouses were made between 1962 and 1964 as the company attempted to diversify in the face of a shrinking glove market and competition from the Far East.
An advert for a Pinkham blouse can be seen at pinkhamgloves.co.uk/media-adverts/
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