FASHION FIND from The Lowe Collective: Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Judith Roberts trained at the Art Institute of Baltimore. She fell in love with Mexican culture when she first traveled to the country. She settled with her family in San Miguel de Allende, opened a shop selling folk art, clothing, and jewelry, designed her own clothing line, and spent much of her time photographing all that she saw. Inspired by the colors and forms of traditional, Mexican costume, American ex-pat Judith Roberts moved to Mexico in the 1980’s to pursue her passion for fashion design. Her extraordinary, "Coleccion" high-end coats and jackets made her an international name, many of them exhibited to wide acclaim in Paris and retailing for hundreds of dollars.
In 2008, Judith Roberts’/photographs, “Ceremony of Mexico: A Mexico Journal” were exhibited at Magic Garden in relation to the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Frida Kahlo exhibition. The exhibition focused on Roberts' extensive trips throughout Mexico's vastly diverse ethnic regions, where she experienced and captured celebrations and religious rituals along with ordinary life.
Her collection of her formal vests, long jackets, and floor-length opera coats are outstanding. She created patterns reminiscent of stained-glass using pieces of satin, taffeta, and printed cotton assembled with black satin piping outlines. The sophistication of the unexpected color combinations and free-form designs found a ready market in Europe as well as Mexico.
Her work was included in the 2015 “Back to the 80’s Exhibit” at Canada’s Fashion History Museum in Cambridge. (see photo of exhibit)
This fabulous, swing coat is one of the best pieces I’ve seen by Roberts and is an incredible example of fiber art to wear featuring various types of fabric panels including satin, velvet, and cotton bordered with multi-colored heavy threading.
Fully lined. Button swag front closure.
Made in Mexico.
Great condition.
Approximate measurements:
Underarm to underarm measured flat: 26" (doubled: 52")
Length: 35.5"
Sleeve lengths: 23.5"
Free shipping within the Continental US.