Kindred Keepsakes: Honoring the Heirlooms and Heritage of James Galanos
GALANOS THE DESIGNER
The stories of James Galanos are prolific. History knows him as an American dressmaker whose quality and construction rivaled that of European couturiers. He styled starlets such as Marilyn Monroe, socialites including Betsy Bloomingdale, and First Lady Nancy Reagan. Yet, while he made Los Angeles his home and New York City his playground, Galanos fostered a lifelong commitment to remain near to those he held dear… his family. This is a story untold — a new story of kindred connections preserved through the ritual of gifting and the practice of making. This is a heritage story of the Galanos family, but it is also your story.
THE GALANOS FAMILY
A first-generation Greek American, born to Gregory and Helen Galanos in 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, James loved fashion as a young boy. As the only son in his immediate family, he was surrounded by femininity — three sisters and his mother. Rather than stepping into the family restaurant business, youthful James began sketching his own designs. His older sister Sue was an early source of creative inspiration for him; Sue’s daughters called her, “Uncle Jimmy’s muse.” Her influence encouraged James to merge fashion styling and photography.
JAMES’ FASHION CAREER
At 24, James left New Jersey for Paris to apprentice with French couturier Robert Piguet alongside up-and-coming designers Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy. In 1951, James returned to America. Between the 1950s and 1990s, the Galanos Originals brand carried a reputation for exquisite construction and hand-finishing techniques. While he retired in 1998 to pursue artistic and abstract photography, the family legacy he created continues to transcend the bounds of time.
GALANOS FAMILY MEMORIES
This exhibition glimpses memories of James’ family members that originate with the women in his family. Their stories add important nuance to the legacy of a famous designer who was, in fact, a profound and private family man. But memories are often incomplete and can evolve over time. In this exhibition, we invite you into the Galanos family memories through six vignettes.
These stories, like myths, relate to specific people, yet their meanings and associations are similar to those shared by any family [biological or chosen]. While viewing this exhibition notice where your memories are reflected in the themes of making, gifting, and styling within your own family experiences; whether it was the second-grade picture outfit, an annual costume you helped create, a textile keepsake of an ancestor, or the needlework taught to you at home. We want to know – what is your story?
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Meet the Curator
Sarah Silvas-Bernstein is a scholar, educator, and curator. She offers subject matter expertise in historic and contemporary clothing and textiles, psycho-social and cultural meanings of dress, exhibition curation, collections management, sustainability, and fashion industries. Furthermore, as a critical feminist scholar, her curatorial and pedagogical approach integrates expertise on the topics of social justice, equity, inclusion, as well as power-and-equity consciousness.
Silvas-Bernstein is a graduate student in the CSU Apparel and Merchandising program, and holds a graduate certificate in gender, power, and difference from the CSU Women’s Studies department; she also holds a dual undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and Business Management from Graceland University. Silvas-Bernstein serves on the governing board of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and is an active restorative justice and Right Use of Power educator and facilitator. You can learn more about Silvas-Bernstein and her curatorial approach on her website.
