The dressmaker in post-war Australian Society: ‘A Good Occupation for a Girl’ - via the Thread Den newsletter

Photo source: Sew Review

I read this on Thread Den's online newsletter and want to share it with you incase you can help:

Do you know someone who did dressmaking for people in the 1950’s or 1960’s?
Did they do dressmaking from their home?
Did they work for themselves?
Did they work for payment or exchange?

Jenny-Lynn Louise Potter is conducting oral history interviews for a research project on the history of women working as self-employed dressmakers in Australia in the 1950’s and 1960’s. This research will focus specifically on dressmakers using their home as the base for their work. The main aim of the research project is to investigate the personal experience of the dressmaker and what it meant to be a dressmaker in Australian society at this time.

Jenny is seeking women who fit the above criteria and who are willing to participate in this research project. Participation will involve one or two interviews at their home (or a preferred location). The interviews will take approximately 60 minutes. They will be asked questions about their own personal experience of working as a dressmaker and how they managed their work alongside of any family or domestic responsibilities.

This is an opportunity to contribute to expanding the body of knowledge about the social and cultural history of women, work and family in Post WW2 Australian society. Get behind the project by getting in touch with Jenny at jl2potter@students.latrobe.edu.au and letting her know about that special someone in your life that might want to share their story.