Vintage Textiles Show Has Its 45th Consecutive Sellout

STURBRIDGE, MASS.

:Start with a good idea, add hard work and dedication and finally have some good luck and you have Linda Zukas' 45th Vintage Textile Show at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, Monday, May 8. For 15 years she has had a full house in the Exhibition Hall, Ballroom, smaller meeting rooms and even the corridor filled with 150 dealers offering nearly everything imaginable or real made of cloth. Zukas said, "This was the best one ever, more visitors than ever before." She added, "This show has been sold out since the very first one in July 1991."

Held on the Monday before Brimfield Week three times a year since the first, her show has had great success for it was a good idea. Textiles dealers exhibiting at Brimfield were subject to all the weather problems of outdoor shows, which included getting their merchandise soiled or damaged in the rain, dust, sun bleaching and handling by customers who did not have the opportunity to keep their hands clean and sweat free. Zukas recognized the problems and contracted with the Sturbridge Host for its exhibit hall and conference space for the Monday of Brimfield Week. This meant the dealers and customers could still do Brimfield any way they wanted - shopping, exhibiting or not and it also gave shoppers more motivation to come to the area for the week.

It obviously works since this show has been full with dealers' displays and sales have been strong for 15 years.

Rambling Rose of Frederick, Md., has been on hand every year since the beginning, specializing in Victorian era summer dresses that look like something from an old movie - but they sell well. Verna Scott trades as 1840 House in Yarmouth, Maine, with Victorian vintage clothing for the lady to wear in stylish daytime settings, perhaps at work in 1890. Carolyn Forbes, Hollis, N.H., had the high button shoes to go with the daytime outfits.

Some of the exhibiting dealers came to this event from Europe. Marie Niforos came from Italy for the show and she was too busy for an interview in May. She has been doing the show for some years and in an earlier interview she said it is too good to ever miss. She finds her merchandise, vintage dress-up garments, mostly in her native land and sells mostly at this show. Franco Zanetti and his wife have homes in Atlanta and Vicenza, Italy, which is near Venice. Most of their shopping is done in Europe where they buy upholstery trim, ribbon and notions and most of their selling is done at this show and a few others in America.

New Yorker Susan Simon made a very attractive presentation using vintage white goods. Much of her offerings were table linens but there was also some for the bed and window coverings. Cheryl Emmons of Emmons and Martin, Essex, Mass., specializes in vintage window draperies. Much of her collection is drapes from the Twentieth Century but she also brought clothing and lady's accessories including pocket books and purses.

Some dealers offer lady's garments from earlier times, which according to Monica Seggos "sell for inspiration do designers." She added, "They will use these earlier dresses from the [19]50s or as far back as Victorian times to become the basis for new styles which will be manufactured and sold." Trading as Monica's Fashion's of Great Barrington, Mass., she does a variety of shows in the Northeast. Her display included four pieces on the back wall; a late 1930s gown with matching jacket, organdy, for $650; an Edwardian silk gown with lace, $575; from the 1940s a dress in white chiffon with rhinestone belts and trim for $750; and a 1930s party dress in blue chiffon for $650.

Judi Stellmach and Marion Atten are both good friends and dealers who came to the show looking for some special pieces to add to their inventory. They seemed to settle on an Eighteenth Century textile, a silk table or bed drape to offer in their next shows.

New Yorker Steve Mohr said he was doing "very good, selling everything from Pucci to Gucci." The Cat's Meow is from Midland, Texas, and it offers bright and colorful vintage clothing, with a Southwest flair. Another New Yorker, Marie Bradley, was in the hall with an oversize booth offering lady's styles from the Twentieth Century.

Vintage textiles means to many people early bedding and bed coverlets and there was an abundant supply here. Martha Perkins, Ashby, Mass., has been doing the show since it began with a great supply of early handmade quilts. There was a crazy quilt which was very likely a raffle piece offered by Julia Kelly, Come Again Antiques, Sharpsberg, Ga.

Some of the textiles offered, especially pieces made for bed covers, were so well executed they would qualify as folk art. Kelter Malce from Bridgehampton, N.Y., was offering a small cotton piece with very fine handcrafted decoration that might have been a crib cover, table drape or even a wall hanging.

It seems remarkable how large the variety is of textiles offered at this show and even more, how excited the customers were to be here. They came from throughout the country, Japan, China and Europe to buy and this has been happening for many years.

Zukas said the show was even featured in the Japanese equivalent of Better Homes and Gardens. It will be repeated twice again this summer, July 10 and September 4.

For information, 207-439-2334.