Now–September 2
After World War I ended and the Roaring Twenties began, sports became a popular pastime for men and women. The new passion for athletics impacted American culture and fashion in the 1920s and 1930s. The exhibit Who Wore Sports, on display through September 2 in the Allentown Art Museum's Fuller Gallery, features textiles and clothing that reflect this interest in sports as part of a fashionable lifestyle. The fabrics illustrate how athletics in this era brought inspiration and joy.
American tennis player and amateur artist Helen Wills designed “A Game of Tennis” dress fabric, which can be viewed on display at Who Wore Sports. This pattern was part of the Americana Print Series in 1926, which was commissioned by Stehli Silks Corporation. Sports patterns like the one featured in “A Game of Tennis” showcased the new Art Deco style. American designers were influenced by the new style, which was originally staged in Paris and then brought to the U.S. Designers were encouraged to work with more modern fabrics and patterns, and move away from universal floral prints and into sporty prints.
Allentown Art Museum | 31 N. 5th St., Allentown | 610.432.4333 | allentownartmuseum.org
