Pacifica Radio Archives Blog

In this episode of From the Vault, we’ll hear a fascinating 1971 interview with controversial twentieth century fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, with a contemporary introduction by WBAI’s Andrea Katz. Although Gernreich became internationally famous for his 1964 “Monokini,” or topless swim suit for women, his most striking presentation was the show for his spring collection for Harmon knitwear in 1971. In this collection, Gernreich accessorized his clothing designs with Mao caps, desert boots, dog tags and rifles; the show was an effort to publicly expose the intersection of art, fashion, and the resistance of embattled women. Interviewed in January 1971 by KPFK’s Clare Loeb, Rudi Gernreich explains his controversial fashion show and discusses his career and life.

From the Vault is presented through the Pacifica Radio Archives Preservation and Access Project, funded in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, past grants from the Grammy Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the American Archive funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, along with the generous support of Pacifica Radio listeners.

PURCHASE a copy of this program or learn more about the historic archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.

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