Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1965-1967 (Creation)
Level of description
collection
Extent and medium
.5 linear feet
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Marc Bohan was born in Paris on August 22,1926. His mother, a milliner, encouraged Bohan to go into fashion. Bohan's first design position came in 1945, when he began working as a design assistant at Robert Piguet. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s, Bohan worked at a both Molyneux (1949-1954) and Patou (1954-1958). After leaving Patou, Bohan attempted to open his own house. Although notices of his first show were favorable, the venture failed due to lack of financial backing. The same year, Bohan began working for Christian Dior, designing their London line of suits. At the age of 35, Bohan replaced Yves Saint Laurent as Christian Dior's Chief Designer in 1960. Dior thrived under Bohan's direction and the company acquired a new generation of customers while maintaining its original, elegant base. Bohan left Dior in 1989 and from 1990 to 1992, he worked as fashion director for Norman Hartnell in London. As of late, Bohan lives in a 18th century house in Burgundy.
Archival history
According to the seller Glenn Horowitz, this collection of sketches was from a single client of the house of Dior, created for her review/selection during her debutante season of 1966. The client isn't specified but a single piece of hand-written correspondence from the vendeuse at Dior is addressed to "Miss Coleman."
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This collection was purchased from Glenn Horowitz Booksellers with a grant from the Buddy Taub Foundation, December 2016.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection contains sixty-six original sketches (23 pencil and watercolor and 43 pencil) by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior with fabric swatches attached. All on Christian Dior letterhead.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection is a single series housed in five folders.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and College Archives. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at fitlibsparc@fitnyc.edu or call (212) 217-4385.
Conditions governing reproduction
The Department of Special Collections and College Archives does not own copyright for all material held in its physical custody. It is the researcher's obligation to abide by and satisfy copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108) when copying or using materials (including digital materials) found in or made available from the department. When possible, the department will inform a researcher about the copyright status of material, the researcher's obligations with regard to such material, and, wherever possible, the owner or owners of the copyrights. Any and all reproduction of originals is at the archivist's discretion.
Language of material
- English
- French
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The Library of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archives, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY, USA, 10001
Existence and location of copies
FIDM in Los Angeles has a large selection of similar original sketches by Bohan.
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bohan, Marc (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
AAT; ANSI; DACS; DCMI; ISAD(G); ISO; LoC; NISO; etc
Status
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Arrangement, description, and/or archival processing by April Calahan, FIT, NY, NY, USA.