The truth about Lurex...miracle in metallics

I am totally addicted to reading my American Fabrics magazines. I love the resource - I love the history of them. The set I bought was from the Moore Institute of Art, Science and Industry (Philadelphia) library. It is noted inside the covers that the Institute was a 'School of Design for Women'. Love it.



Anyway, the first edition, published in 1946, covers a plethora of fabric related issues. However, one particular advertisement struck me. It's an advert for Lurex : Miracle in Metallics. Finally - I can write about lurex! - there is so much confusion around lurex - is it a fabric or a thread?





The copy below is from the advertisement:

Lurex : Miracle in Metallics

Dobeckmun coats aluminium foil with plastic and produces a metallic yarn with all of the richness and allure of the Orient....plus adaptability to modern manufacturing.

Would you like a gold thread running through your fabric? Copper? Silver? Do you need a flat yarn? A round yarn? Or a metallic in a combination with other novelty yarns.

A gossamer sheer yarn? Or a yarn which produces a fabric with enough body to serve for upholstery. Must it be tarnishproof and lightproof, too? As well as colorfast? Must the fabric be tubbable? And must it stand the heat and pressure of flat ironing? Can it be dyed? What about drycleaning? And mothproofing?

The answer to all these questions...and dozens more which come to mind when the subject of metallic yarns is brought up...even including metallic yarns in the full rainbow of hues which are on the horizon...is definitely yes with Lurex, the new yarn introduced by the Dobeckmun Company.

From the technical weaving aspect, Dobeckmun sidesteps many other problems which keep weavers from broadening their use of metallics. For Lurex requires no special machinery; the major requirements is that the natural elongation characteristics of the yarn be preserved in each step.

Look, therefore, to an age of elegance in American fabrics...for the development of Lurex opens wide the door to the introduction of metallic yarns into many fields hitherto untried.

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A reminder to us all from Maria

A couple of weeks ago my Uncle asked if I had some scarves. One of his friends had recently been diagnosed with cancer and she wanted some vintage scarves to make her feel better when her hair fell out. I ask you - what better use for gorgeous scarves than to brigten the day of someone in need of sunshine and hope?

And then I received an email two days ago...





Hello Vanessa,

I just wanted to thank you again for your generosity, Robert has passed on the bag of stunning scarfs which I simply can't thank you enough for. I know this may sound a little odd but I am a little relieved at the prospect that I will now be looking a least a little chic with my vintage covered noggin!

Again I really appreciate your kind gesture.

thanks again.

Regards Maria xx

This email gave birth to tears. To be honest - it was a pertinent reminder of the power of a gift, number one. And then it reminded me that simple gestures really can make a difference. And perhaps I have been thinking about donating my scarf collection to the local Grace McKellar Centre to bring a smile to some of us who most desperately need cheering up - and to remind them of just how beautiful they are, no matter what...

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Summer loving

Summer has arrived. Bright blue skies. Jasmine in the air. Hot wind and beautiful sunsets. Sitting outside and enjoying the shade. Cooking over a barbie. Lots of crispy salads. Quiet mornings anticipating the day. Lots of sand and surf and fun times at the beach.



We are having a heat-wave here, of sorts - it's the hottest beginning to November for a century. Six days straight of 30+ temperatures. We had a fire not far from here today but they got it under control fairly quickly. Makes me very nervous about the coming season, though.

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