Wool Designs To ‘Sweep Soviet Women Off Feet’

Press, Volume C, Issue 29435, 10 February 1961, Page 2

Wool Designs To ‘Sweep Soviet Women Off Feet’

/Special Correspondent N-ZRA.)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON February 9. For the first time in fashion

history. Russian women are to be shown the sophisticated way to wear wool, it was stated in Bradford, when the National Wool Textile Export Corporation showed some <n 10.000 patterns which Russian women will shortly see when the £2 million British fair opens in Moscow in May. "We aim to sweep the Russian women off their feet,” says the "Yorkshire Post” women’s editor. “There will be blazing tartans, flaming printed jerseys, mohairs, boucles, tweeds, and draughtboard checks. There will be model girls in wool coats and suits created by top British designers.

“Russian women have never seen anything like these patterns before. In the past the Russian view of wool has been thick warm, and mudcoloured. Women wore wool to keep out the cold. Now they will learn to keep out the cold artistically. "Loveliest in the collection are jersey dress textiles splashed with stylised autumn

leaves and English deer—inspired by Madame Khrushchev’s passion for the British jersey.” the spokesman of the corporation said. “Our aim is to excite Russian women emotionally—to show them woo! at its most sophisticated, and to make them want to express themselves through their clothes.” The “Yorkshire Post” adds: "The Soviet outlook is purely utilitarian—quality regardless of design. Soviet orders are for velour, medium or heavyweight, in plain, drab colurs. If Russian women are human, the designs shown at the fair should knock ’em cold.”