Glamour and Innovation: Frankie Welch
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About this Gallery
Frankie Welch was one of the first designers to design “across the aisle,” creating gowns and scarves for first ladies Pat Nixon, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, and Rosalynn Carter. After earning a degree in clothing and design at Furman University in Greenville, SC, Welch relocated with her husband to Maryland, where she taught “clothes coordination” classes at the local university. Welch’s work is frequently described as “Americana,” and she often used the proceeds of her designs to give back to communities. For example, one dollar from each purchase of Welch’s first scarf design, the Cherokee Alphabet, was donated to the higher education fund of the Eastern Cherokee. Shortly after this, Welch was approached by Mrs. Johnson to create a scarf to promote her “Discover America” travel program. Welch continued to design scarves for Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and incorporated themes such as “Nixon Forward,” “Congressional,” and “Forward Together.” Welch incorporated her love of American culture and history in her designs, leaving a unique mark on the lexicon of American fashion.
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