In search of Irish crochet lace: An object-based inquiry

This article explores the prevalence of Irish crochet lace in American fashion of the early twentieth century ( c. 1900–26). An extant object in a university collection of historic dress sparked interest, leading to this research, an attempt to understand what Irish crochet lace is and its use in American fashion. Print media of the time extensively reported the widespread appeal and sale of Irish crochet lace in America. By the 1920s, businesses capitalized on its growing popularity and presented imitation machine-made lace as authentic Irish crochet to deceive consumers and capitalize upon the appeal of the craft. In particular, Bardwil Bros.faced an extensive legal battle due to disingenuous business and marketing practices. A unique component of this inquiry was an analysis of three extant Irish crochet lace fashions held by the Louisiana State University (LSU) Textile & Costume Museum, further enriching this research.