Vintage Fashion and Textile Show Not Just Clothing and Fabric
When a show starts out strong and grows and diversifies each time it runs the results are gratifying for all concerned. In it's 27th season, Mondays, May 7 and September 3, 2018, the Sturbridge Vintage Fashion and Textile Show is experiencing this growth pattern.
This pre-Brimfield show with 120 booths accompanied by dealers from 20 states and 6 countries is more than a showcase for vintage clothing and a large variety of fabrics. Being a particularly artful and artistic group these dealers have demonstrated their resourcefulness by displaying unexpected treasures that fall into a much broader version in the "field of textiles," actually overlapping and many times falling outside of their category altogether - yet standard at this event.
This tri-annual event has evolved into a source for hard to find items. This show is known for its diversity. Promoter Linda Zukas has, from the outset, encouraged her dealers to bring along with their vintage clothing, costumes, drapes and fabric, matching finds such as lamp shades, folding screens, theatrical backdrops, and decorative furniture. The dealers have demonstrated their talents by creating beautiful displays rounded out with unexpected treasures such as gilded frames, folding screens, mirrors, trays, furniture and paintings. These unusual items have dressed up the show nicely and have been in addition to the usual accessories of quilts, buttons, vintage jewelry, old wallpaper, samplers, sewing items, needlepoints, antique fans, trimmings, drapery hardware, brocades, laces, beaded purses and ephemera.
In addition to all periods of vintage clothing and costumes these items will also be found at the show...tapestries, indian blankets, patterned rugs, buttons, ethnic textiles of any kind, costumes, purses, old fashion magazines, old fabrics, rugs of any kind quilts, leather suitcases, shoes, homespun, theatrical or circus backdrops samplers, laces, sewing items, trims, linens, saddle bags, needlepoint, estate jewelry brocades, early wallpaper, hats, dolls of any kind, silver, turquoise, american indian, book and paper related goods, advertising, photography military and parts, workmen’s and vintage clothing european-american 18th c – 80’s.
Having found what sells and not afraid to experiment the dealers have expanded the spectrum of what to present to round out their displays to maximize interest and sales. Standard at the show is a small core group of paper and ephemera dealers which in turn has prompted the fabric dealers to bring items in photograph paper and valentine category.
This combination show is a great source for dealers, designers, decorators, collectors, and a serious learning opportunity for those looking to add another category to their areas of expertise. If you have never seen it, plan to arrive a day early for Brimfield this year. Start the week on Monday at the Host Hotel in Sturbridge.
Show information (207) 363 1320.
Linda Zukas TEXTILE SHOW ASSOCIATES
P.O. Box 729 CAPE NEDDICK, ME 03902 (207) 363-1320