Hibodress blouse
Object numberM2017/023:006
TitleHibodress blouse
CreatorHibodress
DescriptionThis is an original Hibodress white designed by Olga Horak. It is a short-sleeved cotton blouse with embroidered floral and linear design on the front, with double lapel. This item was manufactured by Hibodress PTY LTD, in Woolloomooloo, Sydney.
After surviving the horrors of Auschwitz and death march to Bergen-Belsen, Olga immigrated to Australia with her husband John Horak in 1949. Two weeks after their arrival, Hibodress was established, manufacturing women’s blouses and wholesaling to department stores across Australia.
John – a qualified textile engineer from the Czech Republic – worked alongside Olga who, despite no formal training, had an innate eye for fashion resulting in a bold line of wash-and-wear blouses. For many post-war Jewish immigrants, the fashion industry offered accessible opportunities for realising a new life, particularly if they were prepared to work hard, innovate and adapt. In addition, it was often easy to operate in the rag trade where language barriers were less acute.
This white blouse belonged to Mary Portelli (Maltese migrant arriving in Australia in 1952), a cleaver employed by Olga and John Horak at Hibodress Blouses PTY LTD.
It is one of two (M2017/023:007) known original Hibodress Blouses in the collection.
Like associated items M2017/023:001 /:002 /:003 /: 004 and: 005, this is an example of the types of items manufactured by survivors who immigrated to Australia and established their lives and careers after the war.
After surviving the horrors of Auschwitz and death march to Bergen-Belsen, Olga immigrated to Australia with her husband John Horak in 1949. Two weeks after their arrival, Hibodress was established, manufacturing women’s blouses and wholesaling to department stores across Australia.
John – a qualified textile engineer from the Czech Republic – worked alongside Olga who, despite no formal training, had an innate eye for fashion resulting in a bold line of wash-and-wear blouses. For many post-war Jewish immigrants, the fashion industry offered accessible opportunities for realising a new life, particularly if they were prepared to work hard, innovate and adapt. In addition, it was often easy to operate in the rag trade where language barriers were less acute.
This white blouse belonged to Mary Portelli (Maltese migrant arriving in Australia in 1952), a cleaver employed by Olga and John Horak at Hibodress Blouses PTY LTD.
It is one of two (M2017/023:007) known original Hibodress Blouses in the collection.
Like associated items M2017/023:001 /:002 /:003 /: 004 and: 005, this is an example of the types of items manufactured by survivors who immigrated to Australia and established their lives and careers after the war.
Production periodpost World War II
Subjectlife in Australia, re-establishing lives, Fashion, manufacturing industry, post World War II, survivors
Object nameshirts
Materialcotton
Techniquewoven
Dimensions
- blouse length: 677.00 mm
blouse height: 525.00 mm
blouse height: 517.00 mm
blouse length: 470.00 mm
button diameter: 13.00 mm
Language
- English
English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Grace Wiggins