Generation Paper: Fast Fashion of the 1960s

During the 1960s, paper dresses took the world by storm, when Scott Paper Company launched an ingenious marketing campaign—an early forerunner of viral marketing strategies—to promote “Dura-Weve,” the textile featured in their new disposable tableware line. With the idea that paper dresses were the future, other companies like Mars of Asheville joined the excitement and were soon selling 80,000 dresses per week.

Exhibition highlights include garments that mimicked kitchen countertop patterns, a promotional for Viking appliances; children’s dresses featuring Captain Kangaroo and Flintstones cartoons; a dress and matching placemats and napkins by Seagram’s 7, created so the ultimate party hostess could match her décor; and, mostly notably, the Campbell’s Souper Dress and the first two original Paper Caper dresses from Scott Paper Company. Altogether, Generation Paper examines how the whimsical and short-lived paper-dress trend of the 1960s was a period of experimentation that informs many modern textiles of today and will continue to influence the textiles of tomorrow.

Mon & Tue CLOSED
Wed 10am – 7pm
Thu – Sun 10am – 5pm

Ellman Fashion Design Gallery & Harnett Gallery
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 North Central Avenue

Phoenix, AZ