Honestly, I started collecting scarves at a young age. They reminded me so much of paintings, something I longed to collect but couldn’t afford. It was only after studying fashion history that I realized I had amassed quite an impressive collection of scarves. While I collect them much less now, I couldn’t resist my newest acquisition . . .
Lucky me to have come across this mint condition scarf! ”Downtown” by Wesley Simpson. To me, finding this scarf was like scoring a Renoir painting for $7 at a flea market. Wesley Simpson (1903-1975) was an American textile manufacturer who was responsible for bringing many artist-designed textiles to the market after World War II.
He started his career in retail sales c. 1919 for Cheney Brothers. Simpson job was to sell textiles to dress companies throughout the garment district in Manhattan. During this time, he met his wife, Adele Smithline (later known as Adele Simpson, the famous designer).
During the Great Depression, Simpson established his own business as a textile converter. This means that designs were produced in-house or via freelance artists, and then the actual printing was contracted to outside factories. Simpson was the chief stylist of his company, which came to be known as Wesley Simpson Custom Fabrics, Inc. The company operated from 1932 to 1950.
My scarf has a lovely repeat of a furniture store, with a sale sign in one window, and a bed frame in the other. Next to it is most likely an apartment building. So cute! The border is a contrasting yellow, and the edges are hand-rolled and tacked down. There is no care label, but the fabric feels like rayon. I’d say this scarf is from the late 1940s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a very similar scarf from c.1948:
Has anyone seen a scarf like mine? Please leave a comment if you have any clues!
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For more information on Wesley Simpson, please read this excellent presentation by Lynn Felsher.
And take a look at this fantastic ad campaign featured on The Vintage Traveler
You should also buy a copy of Artist Textiles: 1940-1976 – it’s worth the investment!
GHTime Code(s): nc
What a great example!
I found vintage treasure :) Lizzie, when you come for a visit we will get into lots of trouble
Thank You so very much for your excellent post, detailed pics and Lynn Felsher’s link to more about Wesley Simpson. I’ve had two of his scarves for years and could never find out anything more about him. I do feel like I’m holding onto a mini work of art, and am glad I kept them all these years knowing they were special. Again Thanks L. Chapple
Hi Linda! So happy that I could provide you with information! Wesley Simpson contributed so much to American fashion and textile history. It makes me sad that someone like him is virtually unknown. I would love to see your scarves, if you could email me images of them: monicadmurgia@gmail.com – I’d love to include them in an upcoming post. Another reader recently purchased a textile design by John Little, and I would love to include it in that article. John Little was an abstract painter that did textile designs from the 1920s-1960s, making him a contemporary of Simpson.
This scarf is gorgeous–I’m in love with the details and design of it. After your great article here, I need to go through my own scarves to see if something similar is lurking in the shadows (one can always hope, right?).
You’d be surprised! I’ve collected quite a few Vera, Echo, and other scarves as a child -well before I knew their significance! Please let me know if you find any gems lurking in your closet :)
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[...] enough, I was contacted by another one of my readers, Linda, after writing about my own scarf by Wesley Simpson. My scarf is called “Downtown” and has a repeat of a furniture store and apartment [...]
[...] I’ve yet to find a Wesley Simpson scarf, but I’m always delighted to see “new” ones that are unearthed from the used clothing venues of America. It made me really happy that art and vintage clothing lover Monica Murgia recently found an especially peachy one. [...]
[...] Simpson. Simpson was a textile converter based in New York. (New to my site? You should read these posts on Wesley Simpson) This scarf is called “Moderne”, and I’m curious to figure out [...]