Recorded Oct. 20, 2021
Behind the Beautiful Clothes: A History of Exploitation in the Garment Industry | Erika Holst | Recording Available November 1
What comes to mind when you think of 19th century fashion? Perhaps it
is the image of long dresses with yards of billowing fabric, or sober
wool suits. Yet behind the romantic appearance of historic clothing lies
the darker story of the American textile and ready-made clothing
industries, which provided money-making opportunities for a few and
exploited the labor of countless others. This talk will explore the
economic and social costs of the beautiful clothes of the past and chart
the evolution of the modern garment industry in an effort to better
understand the cost of “fast fashion” today.
Erika Holst is the Curator of History at the
Illinois State Museum. Her most recent exhibition is Fashioning
Illinois, 1820-1900, which explores the personal experience of wearing
and caring for clothing in the 19th century.
Holst has worked in the public history field for more than 15 years,
during which time she has curated more than a dozen exhibitions. She is
currently an Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar who presents on
the topic of the social and economic context of the 19th century
clothing industry.
Holst’s publications include Wicked Springfield: Crime, Corruption,
and Scandal During the Lincoln Era, Edwards Place: A Springfield
Treasure, and Historic Houses of Lincoln’s Illinois, as well as several
scholarly and popular articles. Holst holds a master’s degree from the
Winterthur Program in Early American Culture.
