Richard O. Porter, fashion wholesaler: albums

Albums of press cuttings, designs and photographs (1902-1951).

Richard O. Porter managed Vivian Porter & Co. Ltd , a ladieswear and sportswear wholesalers which was founded in 1902 in premises at 9 - 10 Holles Street, London. Initially it manufactured only ladieswear but in the 1920s it expanded its range to include specialised sports fashions. It sold garments to a number of stores, including Altman's in New York and Harvey Nichols and Woollands in London. Designers who worked for the firm included Margaret Parker and Phyllis Wise . Porter was actively involved in many aspects of the wholesale clothing industry and belonged to the Wholesale Fashion Trades Association . He contributed a number of articles to trade journals such as the Drapers Record and was Chairman of the Fashion Display Committee for the British Industries Fair in 1937.

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Study Rooms by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.

Gift of the London College of Fashion to the National Art Library, 1993. Transferred within the National Art Library to the National Art Library, Archive of Art and Design, 1995. The albums are marked R.O. Porter bequest.

This online catalogue is a complete description of the archive to file level. A summary description is also included on the National Art Library computer catalogue, and in the published Guide to the Archive of Art and Design

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.