Paula Stafford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paula Stafford
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Stafford in 1949
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| Born | 10 June 1920 Melbourne, Australia
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| Died | 23 June 2022 (aged 102) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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| Occupation | Fashion designer, businesswoman |
| Known for | Introducing the bikini to Australia |
| Spouse(s) |
Beverley Ralph Stafford
(m. 1943) |
| Children | 4 |
Paula Stafford OAM was an Australian fashion designer. She is famous for bringing the bikini to Australia. A museum director even called her "Australia's original bikini designer." She lived from June 10, 1920, to June 23, 2022.
Contents
Growing Up: Paula Stafford's Early Life
Paula Stafford was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1920. After finishing school, she studied how to design clothes. She learned this at the Emily McPherson School of Domestic Economy. This school was part of the Melbourne Technical College. Later in her life, she lived in Gold Coast, Queensland.
Fashion Design: How Paula Stafford Started Her Business
The bikini swimsuit is often said to have been created by Louis Réard in 1946. However, two-piece swimsuits existed before then. Paula Stafford had been making them for herself since the 1930s. She slowly turned this hobby into a business.
During the 1940s, World War II caused shortages of fabric. This made people want swimsuits that used less material. So, swimsuits became smaller. One day, someone saw Paula's homemade swimsuit on the beach in Gold Coast, Queensland. They asked to buy one. This is how she started selling her designs.
Her swimsuit styles became very popular. People loved them in Gold Coast and Melbourne. Paula began making her swimsuits with a sewing machine in her attic. Later, she built a factory. She also opened her own shop called the Tog Shop. People could also order her clothes by mail. Her company also started making casual clothes for both men and women.
Paula sold her clothes to big stores around the world. These included British stores like Selfridges and Liberty of London. In Australia, her clothes were sold at Myers, Georges, Buckleys, and David Jones. She also started a modeling agency and even owned a hotel.
Famous Bikini Moment: The Surfers Paradise Incident
In 1952, something famous happened. A model named Ann Ferguson was asked to leave a beach. This was in Surfers Paradise, Queensland. Her swimsuit was thought to be too revealing. She was wearing a Paula Stafford bikini. This event showed how new and bold Paula's designs were at the time.
Awards and Recognition: Honoring Paula Stafford's Work
In 1993, Paula Stafford received a special award. She was given a Medal of the Order of Australia. This award was for her great contributions to the fashion industry.
Her amazing work is on display today. You can see it at the Gold Coast Historical Society museum. This museum is in Bundall, Queensland. Her designs were also shown in a swimwear exhibit. This was at the Queensland Museum South Bank in 2010. In 2012, she received the "Legend Award" from the Gold Coast City Council.
Paula Stafford's Personal Life and Legacy
In 2010, Paula Stafford's life story was published. It was called Bikini: The Paula Stafford story. She wrote it with Ali McGovern. In 2013, Paula Stafford was honored again. She was added to the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. She turned 100 years old on June 10, 2020. Paula passed away on June 23, 2022, at the age of 102.
The State Library of Queensland keeps Paula Stafford's personal collection. Paula was very good at keeping records. She documented almost every new business idea. She also kept records of every new advertisement and swimsuit design. In 2013, the State Library of Queensland made a video. In this video, Paula Stafford talked about her dressmaking. She also discussed how her business grew and became successful. Paula shared how the bikini helped launch her business in Surfers Paradise. She talked about building her business around her family. She also discussed her unique business style. Paula spoke about the Gold Coast and tourism. She was proud to become an international brand. She also loved bringing international attention to her work. Paula was very proud to be from Queensland.
