17. March 2024

This gorgeous 1940s advertising poster for Indanthrene dye from our collection, features acclaimed Chinese actress Nancy Chan. It also tells the story of a chemical innovation from Germany that deeply influenced the popularization of the iconic Cheongsam or Qipao dress in China. The Badische Anilin- und Sodafabrik, better known as BASF, was founded in Mannheim, Germany in 1865 and had already been actively marketing and selling its “Indigo Pure” dyes in China since 1885.

24. January 2022

Tobralco was a fabrics brand by British company Tootal Broadhurst Lee Co, which was founded 1799 in Manchester. In 1918 a research department was established, which carried out early work on creating crease resistant fabric. The company was notable for its early use of brand names and was a leader in the field of selling direct to retailers. By 1939, the firm had spinning, weaving and yarn dyeing factories across England and 5 branches overseas. Additionally the company had agencies throughout...