Eta Valer Hentz (1895–1986) was a Hungarian-American fashion designer active in the US from the 1920s to the 1940s. Mainly known as Madame Eta, she was particularly known for flattering

ready-to-wear Ready-to-wear (RTW)also called ''prêt-à-porter'', or off-the-rack or off-the-peg in casual useis the term for garments sold in finished condition in standardized sizes, as distinct from made-to-measure or bespoke clothing tailored to a partic ...

clothing inspired by Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages. 1945 Mme Eta Hentz evening dress with bustle bow 01

Born in Budapest, Hentz studied at the Hungarian Royal State Academy of Industrial Arts. In 1923 she launched her career in New York, when she joined the high-end ready-to-wear wholesaler Maurice Rentner. Their label Ren-Eta, ran until the late 1940s. In the late 1930s, Hentz and Ann Sadowsky launched their own company, for which Hentz produced her best-known work. She was particularly known for a 1943 collection which used ancient Greek classical themes, and other inspirations included

Cape Cod Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. The ...

and the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

for a Winter 1945 collection. She worked in the ready-to-wear industry, creating clothes that were inventive, chic and refined, and flattering, especially for more mature women. Her work stood out from that of other American women designers for being more structured and decorative, more comparable to the work of American men designers. She was known as the "museum designer" due to her work regularly drawing influence and inspiration from historical sources and museum objects. She celebrated her 25th anniversary as a designer in July 1948, with an Autumn collection in shades of grey showing

Victorian Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literatur ...

and

Edwardian In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...

influences. Hentz had an ongoing association with

Stephens College Stephens College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Timeline of women's colleges in the United States#First and oldest, the second-oldest women's educa ...

. In 1957, as a "leader of the fashion industry" she helped found a costume library and reference collection at the college, and was part of the college's Fashion Advisory Board in 1967 along with

Mary Brooks Picken Mary Brooks Picken (August 6, 1886, Arcadia, KS – March 8, 1981, Williamsport, PA) was an American author of 96 books on needlework, sewing, and textile arts. Her ''Fashion Dictionary'' was published by Funk and Wagnalls in 1957. Career She f ...

Adele Simpson Adele Simpson (December 8,''Adele Simpson'', Current Biography Yearbook, H.W. Wilson Company, 1971, p. 397. 1903 '' – '' August 23, 1995) was an American fashion designer with a successful career that spanned nearly five decades, as well as a ...

, Vera Maxwell, Jo Copeland,

Pauline Trigère Pauline Trigère (November 4, 1908 – February 13, 2002) was a French and American couturière. She was famous in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. She designed novelties such as the jumpsuit, the sleeveless coat, the reversible ...

Sally Victor Sally Victor (née Josephs; February 23, 1905 – May 14, 1977) was a prominent American milliner from the late 1920s through the 1960s. Her designs were popular with Hollywood actresses such as Irene Dunne, Helen Hayes, and Merle Oberon, as wel ...

, and Helen Lee. In April 1970, she was part of the judging panel for the college's student fashion show. She died in 1986. Her archives, covering the years 1933-1967 are held by the

Fashion Institute of Technology The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is a public college under the State University of New York, in New York City. It focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry. It was founded in ...

, New York.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hentz, Eta Valer 1895 births 1986 deaths American women fashion designers American fashion designers Hungarian women fashion designers Hungarian emigrants to the United States