Mary Annette Hay: The miracle of wool
Senior Curator History, Claire Regnault pays homage to Mary Annette Hay, and relives some of her wonderful shows promoting wool.
Mary Annette Hay and the International Wool Secretariat Collection
Entrepreneurial women and wool in post-war New Zealand clothing industry.
Te Papa Researcher: Claire Regnault, Senior Curator History
In 2006, Mary Annette Hay (née Burgess), gifted a large collection to Te Papa relating to her career with the New Zealand Wool Board, which spanned the years 1948 to 1956. The collection includes scripts, advertising campaigns, scrapbooks, photographs and most significantly a range of designer woollen garments by some of Britain and Europe’s leading designers of the post-war period, including Hardy Amies, Pierre Balmain and Marcel Rochas. These garments were sent to the New Zealand Wool Board by the International Wool Secretariat (IWS) to be used to promote the wonders of wool.
Claire is continuing to document and interpret this collection as part of her ongoing interest in the use of, and attitudes towards wool, in the New Zealand clothing industry, and entrepreneurial women.
Primary outputs: Articles, collection documentation
Mary-Annette Hay in Maggy Roulf cherry red and white gown, Anderson and Atkinson; photographer; 1951-1952; Wellington. Te Papa (CA000921/001/0001/0008)
Mary Annette Hay on Collections Online
Read about entrepreneurial women and wool in post-war New Zealand clothing industry.