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Lilly Pulitzer Gains Valuable Capabilities with Digital Fabric Printing

The story of how Lilly Pulitzer got started as a fashion designer is fascinating, and so is the story of how the company has leveraged digital printing technologies to streamline its workflow and unleash increased design creativity. Senior Editor Cary Sherburne spoke with Margaret Getty, Lilly Pulitzer Senior Associate for Woven Fabric and Trim, to learn more.

Monday, November 02, 2020

During the recent Smithers Digital Textile Printing virtual conference, Margaret Getty, Senior Associate for Woven Fabric and Trim, shared the Lilly Pulitzer story—how she got started, and how the company has continued to leverage technology to continue to innovate.

Margaret, who has worked for the company for more than seven years, stated that when Lilly eloped with Peter Pulitzer, grandson of the Pulitzer Prize’s Joseph Pulitzer, the couple settled in Palm Beach where Peter had several citrus groves. Although she was a socialite, Lilly wanted to have her own ventures, so she started her own juice stand. But the juices were getting all over her clothes when she was squeezing the fruit, and she needed something to mask the stains. Lilly went to her dressmaker to find a simple shift, clean cut and comfortable but colorful enough to hide all the stains. And from that the classic Lilly shift was born.

“As it turned out,” Margaret continued, “juice wasn’t getting as much love as the dresses, and it really took off when Jackie Kennedy was featured in Lifemagazine wearing a Lilly.”


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About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.

Cary Sherburne is available for speaking engagements and consulting projects. To get more information contact us.

Please offer your feedback to Cary. She can be reached at [email protected].

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