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Clothing and Accessories
Women's Clothing ➔ Coat
Identifier:
2017.36.1Description:
This late 1960s era leopard fur coat was owned and worn by the donor. It is in excellent condition due to the coat having had little wear. The coat was of a fashionable 1960s style pea coat that was purchased by the donor at longtime local furrier Alice Jane Dows in Grand Rapids. Leopard prints have been popular throughout the twentieth century, however, it was during the 1950s and 1960s that actual leopard pelts became a fashion statement for women signifying taste and status. Their popularity declined in the late 1960s due to the anti-fur movement.Date:
circa 1965Materials:
Leopard FurCurrent Location Status:
On ExhibitCollection Tier:
Tier 1Source:
Gift of Mrs. M. S. KeelerExhibit/Program:
Fashion + Nature (April 2022)Fashion + Nature examines the relationships between the natural world and the fashion industry. Clothing has long been produced with natural materials and inspired by the beauty and diversity of the natural world, but the fashion industry has had a largely negative impact on the environment. This exhibit showcases a wide variety of captivating scientific specimens and fascinating garments, to illustrate their relationship to each other and their interconnected histories. Fashion + Nature aims to inspire and educate visitors, encouraging us to become better consumers and reduce the harmful impacts of the fashion industry.
Related Entities:
Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Keeler (donor) Alice Jane Dows (sold by)In 1943 Alice Jane Lobbezoo Dows acquired the Grand Rapids furrier business Rason and Dows which opened in 1903. The business was then moved to Fulton Street at Jefferson Avenue. In 1975 the business was bought by Larry Leigh who moved it to 60 Monroe Avenue Northwest. The business continued under a new name and leadership until its closure in 2011.
