Vancouver-based fashion designer Lore Maria Wiener (31 March 1920 – 16 July 2019) dominated local fashion during the mid-century and continued designing well into her 80s. Wiener combined elegance with comfort in creations ranging from flapper-inspired cocktail dresses to exquisitely tailored coats for all seasons. Great care was taken in selecting the finest fabrics from Europe, particularly cottons and wools, alongside accessories that were exclusive to LMW. Wiener’s designs were then constructed locally by a team of highly skilled seamstresses for a clientele that extended as far east as Ontario. As a tribute to her importance, the Vancouver Art Gallery chose one of Wiener’s dresses for the cover of their 2020 exhibit, “Modern in the Making: Post-War Craft and Design in British Columbia.” The exhibition highlighted Weiner, in addition to other immigrants to BC, who thrived during the post-war environment. The digitized LMW marketing materials provide a representative selection of the fashions created by Wiener during the 1970s and 1980s. The models were often photographed against Vancouver landmarks including the Marine Building and Henry Moore’s Knife Edge sculpture in Queen Elizabeth Park. Wiener regarded fashion as integral to high culture and aimed to promote Vancouver as an artistic centre. This project is generously supported by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre's BC History Digitization Program. For research inquiries, content concerns, or any other questions please contact Denise Jacques, SMOC Trustee, info [at] smoc.ca.
