100 Years of Jantzen: From Vintage to Vamp

This exhibit at the Steven Goldman Gallery celebrated the 100 year old heritage swimwear brand established in Portland, Oregon in 1910.  In the early 1920s, Jantzen revolutionized the way women dressed for sports with its body-conscious suits known as “swimming suits” instead of “bathing costumes.”  By 1960, Portland-based Jantzen had grown into an international brand.

This gallery installation showcased swimwear samples from every decade, along with a timeline of Jantzen’s innovative advertising art. It was one of the first brands to use movie celebrities in its ad campaigns. This exhibit included vintage photographs of Marilyn Monroe modeling a Jantzen suit, a film clip of Elvis Presley wearing Jantzen beach attire in the Hollywood movie Blue Hawaii, and an iconic 20 ft. long Diving Girl sculpture suspended above the gallery.  Co-curated with Jantzen archivist Carol Alhadeff, whose 50+ year career with the company gave the exhibit incredible depth.