Aida Woolf

Aida Woolf (1886–1967) was a British dress designer and businesswoman.

Early life

Aida Woolf was born in Bow, London in 1886, the eldest of seven children of Emmanuel Woolf, a commercial traveller, and Sarah Woolf, a schoolteacher.[1] In 1895, the family moved to Clapham, and stayed there until 1913.[1]

Career

By 1923, Woolf had moved her dressmaking business to 283 Oxford Street, above the ABC Teashop.[1]

In 1928, Woolf moved to new premises in Harewood Place, and in 1936 to 20 Grosvenor Street.[1]

As a West End couturier, Woolf rivalled Reville and Rossiter.[2]

Personal life

In 1914, she married Sydney Benjamin at the Central Synagogue, Great Portland Street.[1]

Legacy

Two of her wedding dresses, from 1914 and 1923 are in the permanent collection of the V&A,[3] including one made for Flora Diamond's wedding to Philip Jacobs at the Bayswater Synagogue in June 1923.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Nathan, R. (1 January 1975). "AIDA Woolf, Dressmaker". Costume. 9 (1): 53–57. doi:10.1179/cos.1975.9.1.53.
  2. ^ a b "Ada Woolf at the V and A - Jewish Historical Society of England". Jewish Historical Society of England. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Your Search Results - Search the Collections". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 3 August 2018.