The Rio Olympics mark not only the 60th anniversary of Melbourne’s Olympics but also the first skirt made by south-west fashion icon Fletcher Jones.
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A light grey wool skirt worn at the opening ceremony of the 1956 games by all 44 female athletes has been uncovered in Melbourne University’s archives.
The uniform was worn by Olympians such as Betty Cuthbert, Lorraine Crapp and Dawn Fraser.
An inscription on the Fletcher Jones label carrying the Olympic insignia implored the athlete “care for this skirt always”.
The skirt marked a significant change for Fletcher Jones who’s slogan at the time was ‘No man is hard to fit’. Its production opened a new market for the Warrnambool-based business.