Walking in my ancestors' shoes : I toured New York's Lower East Side in Victorian dress!

Ever wanted to visit your ancestors' world? I used fashion history to do it, in the Lower East Side and Garment District of Victorian era New York City! You can thrift my picks at https://tdup.co/SNAPPY and use my code SNAPPY for an extra 40% off and free shipping on your first order. (Offer expires 8/1/23. Applies to US & Canada customers only and is only applicable to select merchandise. See site for full terms). This video is sponsored by thredUP!

In the finale episode of “The Clothes on Their Backs,” I got into Victorian dress from 1881 and took a walking tour of the Lower East Side New York locations that would have been part of my great great grandmother Carolina’s life in the Victorian era. It's one thing to experience New York as a tourist, but another to do it in full historical dress : historical underwear, a Victorian corset suitable for a working class woman, and a reproduction Natural Form dress like what my ancestor would have worn for Shabbat and special occasions. Bradley Shaw from the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy took me on a tour of the places important to immigrant Jewish communities, and Mike Kaback showed me around the Garment District to see how the fashion industry has changed since my ancestors worked in it. Join me on a walking tour of the Lower East side and Garment District that includes a factory tour of M&S Schmalberg Flowers provided by Warren Brand, one of the family of owners. Through exploring New York in historical costume, I learned so much about the power of clothing to shape the world.

The Garment District of New York City is a popular tourist destination as a hub of New York fashion and design. Touring the area and learning a humble history of the factories and the people, like my ancestor, who likely worked in them, was a fascinating and authentic experience. This entire project has allowed me an opportunity to connect with my ancestor in a unique way, reconstructing her clothing and walking the same paths she walked in her lifetime. I hope this project will inspire you to explore the #ThreadsOfOurAncestors as well, and see what rich history is woven into your own heritage.


The Clothes on Their Backs: Join fashion historian Vi of the Youtube channel SnappyDragon as she delves into her family's Jewish immigrant history through dress reconstruction across generations. Vi brings viewers along on her personal journey as she researches, designs, and sews what could have been her great-geat-grandmother’s best dress for Shabbat as a 19-year-old new immigrant to New York in 1881. Beginning in her sewing room in California, Vi learns stitch-by-stitch what a new dress would mean to a new immigrant girl. Then, in partnership with the Tenement Museum and the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy, Vi retraces her ancestor’s footsteps through New York City during one of the most interesting times for the garment industry and the American Jewish community alike.

Many thanks to these production partners for making this video possible !

the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy, who brought us on an incredible tour based on my ancestor Carolina's personal story : https://www.nycjewishtours.org/

Mike of Mike's NYC Tours, who has a lifetime of firsthand knowledge about New York's garment and fashion industry : http://www.mikesnyctours.com/

M&S Schmalberg flowers, who make the most beautiful work imaginable. Support them (and get yourself some lovely things) at https://customfabricflowers.com/

Join my Patreon for behind-the-scenes updates, pattern diagrams, research lists, monthly video chats, and more!   / snappydragonstudios  
Or, you can buy me some Ko-Fi : https://ko-fi.com/snappydragon
Follow me on IG for more stitchy business : @missSnappyDragon
For business inquiries, send an e-mail to : SnappyDragon at TBHonestSocial dot Com
I do not take personal costume/sewing or research commissions.

Want to send me letters? Send mail to PO Box 11573, Oakland CA, 94611! Letters and cards only please 💚