Madge Garland | |
|---|---|
 Madge Garland, by Man Ray, c. 1927 | |
| Born | Madge McHarg 12 June 1898 Melbourne, Australia |
| Died | 15 July 1990 (aged 92)[1] London, England |
| Other names | Lady Ashton |
| Occupation(s) | Fashion academic; fashion editor and advisor; author |
Madge Garland (née McHarg; 12 June 1898 – 15 July 1990) was an influential figure in the British fashion scene, who made her name as a fashion journalist and editor working for, among others, Vogue and Women's Wear Daily.
From journalism, she moved into a business role during wartime, later advising the British fashion industry and helping to form the London Fashion Group – a forerunner to the British Fashion Council.
In 1948, she founded the first fashion course at the Royal College of Art, helping to develop a rigorous academic framework with a strong industry focus. Robert O'Byrne described Garland as among the female pioneers who: "battled to have fashion design taken more seriously, in particular fighting for academic acknowledgment".[2]
Garland's obituary in The Times noted: "She was no society featherhead, but a key figure in the history of British fashion journalism, the British fashion industry and the training of fashion designers."[3]
- ^ Arnold, Rebecca (2004). "Garland [née McHarg], Madge (1898–1990)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). OUP. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66045. Retrieved 23 July 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ O'Byrne, Robert (2009). Style City: How London Became a Fashion Capital. London: Francis Lincoln. p. 17. ISBN 9780711228955.
- ^ "Obituaries: Madge Garland". The Times. No. 63761. 18 July 1990.