Lady's dress
Eriko
Category
Costume
Date
1970 - 1975
Materials
Polyester (terylene), metal
Measurements
1397 mm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Ormesby Hall, Redcar and Cleveland
NT 709999
Caption
Terylene is the trade name for a polyester textile first developed by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in the 1940s, widely used for items of dress from the 1950s. This dress, with its large paisley-inspired pattern, has the Eriko label, which probably dates it to the beginning of the 1970s. This short-lived brand produced ready-to-wear dresses sold by high-street department stores. Ruth Pennyman (1893–1983) owned this dress when she was in her seventies. She had trained as an artist in London after the First World War, briefly working as an illustrator before marrying Jim Pennyman 1883–1961) and moving to Ormesby Hall in 1926. Rather than settling down in comfort as the wife of a country landowner, she increasingly became involved in the cultural world of Teesside. Theatre was her great love, but she was also interested in visual arts, craft development and poetry. Pennyman’s diaries from the time that she purchased this dress include numerous entries for cocktail parties, luncheon meetings, theatre rehearsals and meetings for the many arts boards that she was on. Wearing this dress, she must have stood out in any room. Jonathan Wallis
Summary
A long sleeveless women's dress from the 1970s. It has a plain round neck and the fabric is printed with large brown, lime green and white tear shapes, inspired by a Paisley pattern. It was designed by Eroko and manufactured in 100% terylene a polyester textile manufactured by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Size 16. Worn by Mrs Ruth Pennyman (1893-1983).
Provenance
Pennyman collection devised in October 1961 to The National Trust under the terms of Col. J.B.W. Pennyman's will.
Makers and roles
Eriko
References
Antrobus and Slocombe 2025: Helen Antrobus and Emma Slocombe, 100 Things to Wear: Fashion from the collections of the National Trust, National Trust 2025, p. 197.