Susan Taylor Converse
Personal Information
Born: Unknown
Died: Unknown
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Unknown
"when asked to give up the royalty for her suits, Converse responded: "With all your zeal for women's rights, how could you even suggest that one woman like myself should give of her head and hand labor without fair compensation?" (thoughtco.com); "
— Susan Taylor Converse
Professional Life
Field of Study: Textiles
Institution/Corporation: None found
Degrees & Memberships: None found
Awards & Achievements
Awards: None found
Achievements: 1875 patented an upgraded version of the union suit, and dubbed it the “emancipation suit” a gathered section freed the breasts from compression, while sets of buttons at the waist & hips helped suspended several layers of skirts, it could also be purchased as 2 separate pieces which buttoned at the hips; they were called emancipation suits because they emancipated women from the confines of corsets; her suits were the 1st to attract widespread attention but they were still considered ugly
her suits were mainly sold & endorsed by the New England Women's Club & at their store in Boston Massachusetts
her suits represented a movement to more comfortable & less restrictive clothing of the Dress Reform Movement
her patent enabled her to collect a 25-cent royalty for every suit sold & a number of women's groups encouraged her to forego the royalty