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
