El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-17
Mystery Wells
Production Of
Women SGO0gnS
Entry To Rooms Where
New Models Are Shown
Is Gained By Few.
u FREDERIo J. HAsKIN.

New York, Nay IA most inter
esHng spectacle, but one which {.
jealousy guarded from the publ,
eye. is the workshop and showroom
Of a manufacturer Of women's high
priced clothes. An air Of mystery sur
rounds the production Of all hats
waists. and gowns, but the manufac-
turers OF high priced models carry
secrecy 20 the nth degree. Every
manufacturer IS suspicious Of every
body else. and most particularly does
he look askance at his rival manu-
lecturers.
Only the buyers for department and
specially stores are welcomed into the
inner sanctums Of fashion, and these
must show they are bona fide by pro-
ducing cards Of Identify from the
shops they represent The cost Of
producing expensive dresses is too
great and too much depends on their
novelty and exclusiveness, for a COM
pany 20 take any risks
Salons OF sartorial art are designed
and furnished so as 10 set off the
models displayed. The term model
81 may be explained here's the key
word OF the clothiag manufacture.
A gown or suit IS a model; the lady
who displays IL is also a model; and
the copies Of the dress displayed, made
TO order for the buyer, also bear the
family name OF model The model is
the most important fact in the exist
ence Of the manufacture.
SumptuOus Settings.
EhoWrooms are the backgrounds for
al these kinds Of models. The most
effective showroom in New York is
furnished in black and white. The
carpet design is black and white
checks. Wall haugings and chairs are
black. At one side OF the room is a
and black velvet carpet covering the
1loor auC the steps which lead 10 the
Gals On this platform vivid evening
gowns and sport suits make their
first bow, before an audience Of criti-
cal buyers.
Another exclusive firms showroom
IS done in soft gray paueling with
blue and white French decorations.
Stiu another salon is all crimson vel
vet while 4 famous suit manufac-
OF circassian walnut walls. hardwood
floors. and oriental rugs.
In these sumptuous surroundings,
the buyers select their models. As
clothes for each season must be or
dered several months ahead. buyer
will be interested in fan suits in June,
and Easter dresses In December. Just
now IS the dull season Designers are
evolving fall goods. and. workshops
are busy with designs already COM
pleted. Some new models, however.
are always ready for display. since
buyers from cities within few hun
dred miles visit the showrooms Of
New York once a month
Men Good Buyers.
There are both men and women buy
ers in the clothing business. They
vary greatly in their methods o. do
ing business. Some are self confident
and depend on intuition and first i'm
pressions. Most Of the men are in
This class, ana have the reputation for
more daring selection than the women
buyers Others study carefully line.
texture, and workmanship, and de-
liver their verdict after Weighing
every defect and advantage On the
whole, however. the expert buyer
Knows Immediately whether a design
is good, and hesitates only to con-
slider minor details.
In selecting models. as in other
phoses Of the dress game, mys-
terry is the word Along one side Of
means OF partitions, so that each
buyer occupying q stall can make
purchase without the other buyers
knowing what he selects. A model
enters BIZ door AT one end Of the
room and walks languidly past the
stalls toward a door at the other end.
II there is stage. she stops there
and poses for a minute If a buyer IS
impressed favorably. he. or she. asks
salesman the price and number Of
the model, and writes the number on