Vest van wit katoenen piqué 1913

Curator: Well, isn't that just the whisper of summer days long gone? Editor: Indeed. Before us we have a photograph showcasing a vest crafted from white cotton piqué, dating back to 1913 and attributed to De (firma) Jong. The image itself feels like a historical document as much as a piece of promotional material. Curator: Oh, but the light, the almost faded quality of the image – it speaks of a gentle era, garden parties, perhaps a promenade by the sea… I imagine a fellow with a straw hat, lemonade in hand, wearing this very vest. Do you get that? Editor: I do, and it’s interesting how the simplicity of the garment itself belies its materiality. Cotton piqué indicates a certain level of accessible luxury. Consider the labor involved: cultivating cotton, the mechanization of the textile mills... it all adds layers to that initial impression. Curator: You always bring me back down to earth! I'm floating on cloud of memory. But you’re right; there's a grounded beauty to it, the way something so commonplace, a simple vest, is connected to the immense, invisible industry behind it. Editor: Exactly! The slight imperfections in the fabric, the shadow behind it, perhaps they intended it as stylish advertising, but today it functions like an archeological artifact to our eyes, illustrating shifts in fashion and consumption. I'm also curious about how fashion trends reflected early industrial processes back then. Curator: It's like looking into a mirror reflecting not just style, but the very fabric of society... literally. Even the buttons, those small shiny discs, each a testament to ingenuity, holding everything together, materially and metaphorically. I'm just glad it has stood the test of time. Editor: A nice summary! Looking at this image makes me think about how we'll perceive the products and processes of our own time in a century. Curator: Food for thought! Makes one want to pause and appreciate the moment and the artistry involved.