McFadden, Mary

Mary McFadden (b. 1938) is known for her exotic designs, which were influenced by her travels in Africa and Asia. Her design career began in 1973 when she began selling hand painted silk dresses at Bendel’s. In 1975 she patented a new pleating technique, which produced a fabric that looked like that of Fortuny, but was made from polyester and in which the pleating was permanent. This fabric became her trademark, along with exotic embroideries and beading.

She established a ready-to-wear line in 1976, but much of the work was done by hand and was quite fine. By the 1980s she had quite a few licensed lines and in the early 1990s she did a line for TV retailer QVC. McFadden unexpectedly went out of business in 2003.

Written by fuzzylizzie

from a 1980s gown

Courtesy of antiquedress.com

from a 1980s pink blouse

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s suit

Courtesy of alonesolo

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

from a 1980s blouse

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from an early 2000s dress

Courtesy of pinupdresses.com

from a tapestry suit, label begun in 2001

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing