Sportwhirl, Inc. 1951-1977 (Page 1 2 3 4)

Jan MacDonald, assisted by Hilda Faje at The Sheraton, 1964	Jeanie Campbell and Inkie Moko

Sportwhirl fashion shows were very hip with models wearing colorful tights, helmets with goggles, and boots. One such fashion show, June 10th, 1964, was held at the Sheraton East Hotel, NYC. Runway model, Jan MacDonald, who was Jeanne's design assistant, was also in the show. As a climax to the event, Jeanne chose a tall blonde-haired model, named Inkie Moko, to wear a long evening gown of deep fuchsia floral. It was a cotton quilted print, paired with a matching bolero jacket with black velveteen cuffs and collar. Another less experienced blonde-haired model made her debut that day, Jeanne's five-year-old daughter Jeanie, dressed to match perfectly, in miniature. The two of them strolled down the catwalk together, creating quite a stir.

It wasn't, however, the first time Jeanne included her family in a fashion show. Years earlier in 1958, Jeanne had her two-year-old son, Sandy, walk hand-in-hand, down the runway with an elegantly dressed model in a Sportwhirl evening gown. The children made a charming and memorable end to the shows.

In the Oct. 17, 1967 "Tobe Report" the editors had much to say about Sportwhirl--"This is without doubt the most exciting collection of cruise sportswear we have seen this year. There are marvelous two-piece sets, many of which have hardware trim, and all of which look young, fresh, and contemporary--you can call them matched separates or two-piece dresses--we call them WONDERFUL." They went on to describe linen skirts-- some "shorties" at 18" long-- and some in wool gabardine or flannel from the late fall collection. Also hip hugging, flared leg pants, "too sensational for words", and "the most exciting selection in pants we've seen in a long time."

The designs Jeanne did for Sportwhirl in the 1970's were more sophisticated. She created a boom with her palazzo pants with 24" bottoms; three-piece suits with wide legged pants in pin-stripe cottons or corduroys; tuxedo inspired velveteen jackets and pants; long vests and knickers in wool; poet shirts with drop shoulders and ruffled cuffs (some in her own nautical "tattoo" print); tunic length chambray/denim shirts with tiny front tucks; and a fantastic array of sweaters- bulky wool to fine cashmere. Jeanne loved the menswear look too. She designed a very successful shirt-jacket in cotton that was inspired by a military uniform, but came in beautiful colors. It was covered with loops and rings and pockets. On the more feminine side were her India printed wrap skirts (some with sequin accents) and halter wrap dresses.

On Sept. 14, 1975 The New York Times Magazine featured a (major) article titled, "Anatomy of a Garment-Center Firm", by Peter Hellman. It told the story of how the Goodman family "survive" amid the upheavals on Seventh Avenue. Talking about Sportwhirl's endurance, Peter Hellman wrote, "...it has never strayed from what has grown into the mainstream of American fashion--sportswear--and has never made clothes which a woman could say were pretty but not practical or just didn't fit. No firm heeds more closely the customer's moods and needs."

When asked how Jeanne kept coming up with designs for so many years, she replied, "I just keep digging in the barrel. When I scrape the bottom, I just turn it over and start all over again."