Born in Austria ca. 1893, Irma Marie Kirby emigrated to the US in 1908. Kirby designed under her own label in the 1930s, but is primarily known as the designer for Eisenberg Originals. According to Lauren Sutton of The Eisenberg Project, she was with the company from the early days and in 1928 with the change to Eisenberg and Sons, she became a Vice- President. She was featured in a series of 1934 ads as designing exclusively for American women. The company featured her name on labels as well, a fairly early instance of this in American manufacturing. From the Eisenberg project: “She would have her own signature label that would be used on “Autographed Originals” or custom made pieces.”
Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans
from a 1930s capelet
Courtesy of Cathy Gordon
from a late 1930s/early 1940s suit
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage
