This month’s selection is one of many DuPont films in Hagley’s collection featuring men’s and women’s fashion using their synthetic fibers. While we have limited documentation on how and where these films were used by the company, the films were likely produced for the fashion industry, clothing manufacturers, and retailers. These films include the names of apparel makers in the closing credits indicating that they collaborated on their production.
The specific reel chosen includes clips from 1978-1980 that includes a series of montages showing models at various locations wearing clothes that use the DuPont products of Dacron, Lycra, Orlon, and Antron. Identified shooting locations include Nova Scotia, Panama City, Curacao, Cartagena, and Sea Pines Plantation (Hilton Head, South Carolina). The films shot in South America were produced in cooperation with Costa Cruises. Tennis player Stan Smith is featured in one film as a spokesperson for Adidas sportswear.
While not intended to be funny (we assume), try to watch without a chuckle or two. To view more DuPont fashion films, check out the Hagley Digital Archives.
Kevin Martin is the Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Audiovisual Collections & Digital Initiatives at Hagley Museum and Library.