Gino Rossi was an Italian-American designer for the Wilson Garment Co. of Chicago starting in the 1960s. Known for better suits, coats, and dresses, by the mid-1970s, the company was the biggest user of Ultrasuede, accounting for neatly 60% of its production. Around this time, Rossi’s designs caught the eye of First Lady Betty Ford, who championed American designers. She purchased three of his Ultrasuede coats and matching skirts, making him well known to an even larger audience. The company appeared to cease operation by the early 1990s.
Written by Ranch Queen Vintage
