Emme

A well-known New York based maker of fine ladies hats, Emme Inc. was founded by Ethel Westheimer Price, Mildred Harris Lippman and Evie Lippman Rosenstein. The first letters of the partners’ names were the inspiration for the company name. In 1920, both Ethel, with 5 years at Bruck-Weiss, and Mildred were working as milliners. By 1922, the three young women had their own shop, E-M-E, and received press coverage when all three were married on the same day, at the same church and by the same minister, with two in a double wedding. By 1930, the partners were Ethel and Mildred, and by 1940 Ethel Price was sole owner. She continued the business until the early 1970s.

Her head designer from 1952 to 1962 was Adolfo, who won the Coty Award for millinery in 1955. In early 1962, Adolfo went out on his own and Price brought in Italian designer Anello from Rome, who stayed on until at least 1968. Emme produced custom millinery for clients such as Mamie Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy, Pat Nixon, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Barbra Streisand and Lena Horne, wholesale for department stores, retail, and Emme Boutique, their budget line. Frank Olive designed for the Boutique line in the 1960s. Designers Don Kline and Don Marshall were also associated with Emme over the years. Ethel herself supervised and collaborated on the designs. Price announced her retirement in 1970, but it didn’t take as she presented collections including wigs in 1971 and 1972. Ethel Price died in 1987 at age 91.

Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1950s chiffon hat

Courtesy of pinkyagogo

from a 1950s hat

Courtesy of pinkyagogo

from a 1960s hat

Courtesy of pinkyagogo