Designer Profile: Jack Horwitz

"Born in London, UK, 1 January 1892, Jacob Horwitz immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was a child. After graduating in 1910 he opened a grocery with a friend in Manhattan. As a member of the National Guard, he was called into service in 1916 to quell Pancho Villa along the Mexican border, but by the time he had returned the grocery business had gone bankrupt. After returning from serving in the U.S. army during World War I, Horwitz went into business again with a partner, this time making shirtwaists (blouses) and shirtwaist dresses. By 1925 they had formed the company Horwitz and Duberman.

Image of the designer and his signature from a 1951 Pattern Package.

In the 1930s, Horwitz became a pioneer in the field of Junior wear (along with department store owner Irving Sorger and French designer Jacques Heim). Until the 1930s teenagers and collegiate aged girls adjusted ready-made adult-sized dresses to fit their smaller frames, but Junior sized clothing was designed in youthful styles specifically for the smaller framed, shorter-waisted younger woman. Horwitz, who considered himself a manufacturer and stylist, not a designer, hired young women to design the clothes. His first label ‘Judy ‘n Jill’, which was in business from the late 1930s to the late 1950s, was carried by stores across the U.S. Another line he launched in 1939 was branded ‘Deanna Durbin’, after the popular teenage singing actress.

New York Times

Horwitz was awarded the Coty Award in 1947 for his role in creating the Junior market.  In the early 1950s Horwitz bought out his partner Duberman, and the company became known as Jack Horwitz Associates. He retired from his own company by 1960, and died in 1992 at the age of 100." - Source: Fashion's Hall of Obscurity.

 The designer Shannon Rodgers worked as a designer for this fashion house, the labels feature "From the Jack Horwitz Custom Collection by Shannon Rodgers.

I have a dress available that I have curated from the 55,000 Dresses Collection.

1950's Jack Horwitz / Shannon Rodgers evening dress. A floral print fabric adorned with gold metallic threading with an overlay of black mesh, it gives the illusion of fish net stockings. The skirt is full and shown with a petticoat (not included)A sexy deep V in the back with a double bow detail, metal zipper and spaghetti straps complete the design.

B = 36"

W = 29"

H = open

L = 48" from top of straps to hem

*Tip: Die to the semi-sheer nature of the floral fabric, add a colored slip and/or petticoat to change the look of the dress to re-style it in a different way.

Jack Horwitz Associated Inc. was active in the 1950s. The designer Shannon Rodgers worked as a designer for this fashion house, the labels feature "From the Jack Horwitz Custom Collection by Shannon Rodgers"

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$180

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