Abe Schrader (1900 – 2001) immigrated to the US from Poland as a young man. He began in the garment business as a contract jobber, and formed the Abe Schrader Corporation in 1952. His Seventh Avenue ready-to-wear house made up-scale dresses , coats and suits for women. The company was established as Arkin & Schrader. The name was changed to Abe Schrader, Inc. in September 1953.
Fashion designs by Abe Schrader in the 1960s
Beginning in 1953, the head designer at Abe Schrader was Belle Saunders. In 1958, Abe Schrader started a new division called Mort Schrader which produced dresses for younger women. It was headed by Mr. Schrader’s son Mort.
In the 1980s, Abe Schrader produced a line by designer Pauline Trigere – “A Trigere Coat.” Trigere claimed she had met Schrader, who was known for his love of dancing, on the dance floor at El Morroco.
Abe Schrader sold his business to Interco in 1984, and continued to work for another four years. In 1990, Interco tried to sell the label, but ended up closing the line and taking the loss.
These fabulous photos captured portraits of classic models wearing fashion designs by Abe Schrader in the 1960s.
Isabella Albonico in beige and white tweed coat over a sleeved beige sheath of cotton and silk, both by Abe Schrader, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, February 15, 1960
Isabella Albonico in Orlon and wool jersey dress and jacket by Belle Saunders for Abe Schrader, Harper’s Bazaar, August 1960
Simone d’Aillencourt in gray and white silk tweed dress with short jacket piped in white by Abe Schrader, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper’s Bazaar, February 1960
Anne de Zogheb in Dior’s dark brown wool dress with a suit look, copied by Abe Schrader for Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Sante Forlano, Vogue, September 15, 1961
Anne St. Marie in double-knit sheath belted black kid with a tuxedo collared waist-level jacket by Belle Saunders for Abe Schrader, Harper’s Bazaar, November 1961
Leave a Reply