Stars and Stripes

The Paris Exhibition of decorative arts of 1925 had an enormous impact on American design when it toured the USA the following year. It encouraged American designers to create furniture and interiors in the modern style. One example is this printed silk dress fabric called ‘Stars and Stripes’ by Helen Wills Moody, the tennis player, who was also an amateur artist. The pattern, which plays on the American flag, is part of the ‘Americana’ range of dress fabrics. The Stehli Silks Corporation commissioned this range from leading artists in 1927. To make a change from ubiquitous floral patterns, these fabrics were designed specifically to depict contemporary American life.

Dress fabric · New York (City) · 1927. Printed silk crêpe de Chine. By Wills, Helen. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.