JACQMAR/ RICHARD ALLAN
Founded in 1930s London by Joseph Lyons, a silk supplier to the couture trade, and his wife Mary. Many of the early scarves were designed by Arnold Lever. Joseph died in 1938, after which the business was run by Alan Allan. His son Richard bought the Jacqmar label in the 1950s. He started producing his own Richard Allan range of scarves that were printed at ‘World of Silk’ David Evan’s silk printing works at Crayford in Kent. David Evans also printed for Liberty and Christian Dior. The Jacqmar label continued until the 1970s. Richard Allan was taken over by Jane Shilton in 1989.

BIANCHINI-FERIER
Silk manufacturer founded in Lyons, France in the 1880s. They collaborated with artists Picasso and Dufy and manufactured for Hermes, Dior, Givenchy and Lanvin among others.

CHRISTIAN DIOR
Christian Dior opened his couture house in Paris in 1946, and went on to introduce the ‘New Look’ in 1947.The house started producing silk scarves in the 1950s. He recognized the importance of Branding, using his CD initials in numerous designs.

VERA NEUMANN
An American designer (1907-1993). Vera and her husband founded their textile company Printex in 1945. She had the foresight to sign her scarves and copyright the designs.

FERRAGAMO
Salvatore Ferragamo emigrated from Southern Italy to Boston and from there to California in the 1920s. He built up a very successful shoe empire. Following his death in 1960, his widow Wanda expanded the business, producing accessories including scarves and eyewear.

GIVENCHY
Hubert de Givenchy’s debut collection was in 1952. He had great success designing for his muse Audrey Hepburn’s movies. He sold the business in 1988, since when the design house has gone from strength to strength, notably under the design direction of John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Riccardo Tisci.