‘Chanson’ Sample of Heal’s fabric, 1955

This is a piece of fabric called 'Chanson' designed by Marie Chant, bought from Heal's in the 1950s. The person who bought this fabric ran a small dress exporting business. She was quite a stylish person and had strong views about clothes and interiors. This is an example of the many remnants and fabric scraps she saved up for future use. Her husband died when their son was only a few months old and she returned to live with her mother in Fulham, moving to Chiswick in the mid 1950s. She worked from home as a shipping agent exporting women's fashions. She selected stock from the rag trade showrooms between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road and sent it to department stores in countries like Kenya, South Africa and Jamaica.