El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-25


~ will arrive in New York next
week for a private view Of the
new designs for the coming season
These modistes come from every state
in the union, and the cards Of invi-
tation to this exclusive trade exhibit
are of more value to their recipients
than are the invitations to the highest
social functions to the society belle. A
unique feature about this large gather
Ing of women is that it is an abSo-
lutely unorganized body. Each woman
is there entirely upon her own affairs
OF course many of them are members
of the National Dressmakers' associ-
alton and have other common bonds,
but this visit to New York is entirely
outside of these
In smaller towns there is much RI
valry among modistes as to who shall
receive the invitations, and as many
heart burning jealousies exist among
ladies of the trade as among their
fashionable customers. More than one
travelling salesman will have TO change
his route after next month because his
firm did not think the order of some
customer entitled her to admittance to
this exclusive trade privilege. The
statesmen, or drummers, are response
bic for many of the invitations, al
though some firms send cards to cus-l
toners who have sent in fair sized or
ders during the year, even if they live
outside of the circuit of the statesmen.
Exhibition to Promote Trade.
The objection of the exhibition is to
promote trade. This can best be done
/ by familiarizing the trade leaders with
the newest developments a little in ad
vance of their needs. These women
I within the next two weeks will leave
orders amounting to over quarter of
a million dollars with New York deal
ers- Part of these goods might have
been ordered through the statesmen,
| but that this private dressmakers' eX-
hibtion is a trade producer is proved
by the number of dressmakers who
each year request cards and come to
New York in acceptance
The exhibits are held on the top
floors of the largest stores and admit
lance TO them is by card between the
dates of February % and March 10.
The unfortunate modiste who endeav-
ors to pick up hints of new styles with
out this magic card had better remain
in her native village, and read the
fashion magazines, for New York trade
Is dull now and most of the stores
have little to show the general public
aside from their staple stock
Invitations Invaluable.
But to the invited modiste these ex-
hibits are Invaluable. They include all
the articles which a few weeks later
figure in the public spring opening
and from them madame will select in
advance according to her Judgment. The
dressmakers' exhibit also includes
numberless things which the public
never sees, for manufacturers will sub
NIT sample patterns of buttons, laces,
braids and other materials. Only those
that are in favor with the dressmaker
VIII be manufactured in quantities to
be put upon the market. This is where
the trades aid each other, because
guided by the dressmakers' judgments,
the manufacturer is saved from putting
on the market lot of materials which
do not sell.
There are about 20 stores that send
out these invitations for exhibits, and
and as New York is practically the
fashionable trade center it leads in this
matter. Some firms in the western
cities make special concessions to
dressmakers, but even the woman on
the western coast gives preference to
styles which come directly from New
York. The wise dressmaker finds it
profitable to cross the continent to Sc
cure them.
Many COurtesIes Extended.
The visit of the dressmakers to New
York Is made as pleasant and profit
able as possible. In the evening the
firms vie with each other in showing
attention to their guests. Theater par
ties and dinners at the large restau-
rants are given by the merchant host
who knows that the clever trades
woman will not fail to observe the
costumes of the fashionable women
gathered in these places.
Several importing firms have Pari-
sian costumes on display. These are for
sale. but may not be taken away un-
til after the exhibition is over, so that