The VFG believes that informed selling and buying communities are good for the vintage-fashion industry as a whole, and all visitors to the website have access to the VFG resources. These are continually updated and constantly evolving, thanks to a dedicated volunteer staff.
Our blog features our picks of the freshest vintage items, member news and articles. We have also created a growing series of articles on some classic designers.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of vintage fashion.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international community of people with expertise in vintage fashion. VFG members enjoy a wealth of resources, avenues for promoting their shops and specialties, and camaraderie with others who share a common interest and passion.
Founded 1969 by Robert Lurie in Boston, Mass. Susan Bristol, Inc. was a popular wholesaler, distributor and importer of embellished knitwear and traditional ladies sportswear and dresses. It’s heyday was the 1980s to early 2000s, when the line was carried in over 1000 shops and department stores throughout the US.
The 1989 trademark registration notes: “The Name “Susan Bristol” is not intended to indicate any particular living individual. For women’s apparel, namely dresses, skirts, blouses, sweaters, jackets and trousers. First use – 9/1/1970; in commerce 9/1/1970”.
Mr. Lurie stayed with the company as president, then CEO and finally Chairman, until it was sold in 2006 to Art Henkens with Capital Factors. While there are still active registrations for the company, it does not seem to have been active since the late 2000s. In 2007, a number of additional trademarks held by the corporation were canceled. These included: Fisher Hill, Concepts Exclusively for Susan Bristol, Colana, SB Collection, Softwear, Do Anything, Bristol, Suzy Bee By Susan Bristol, Susie B., and Bristol Ltd.
Robert Lurie died in 2018.
Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans
from a 1980s sweater
from a 1990s sweater