George W. Trippon
George W. Trippon | |
|---|---|
| Born | George Washington Trippon February 26, 1916 |
| Died | January 1, 2010 (aged 93) |
| Occupations | Fashion designer, educator, writer, television presenter |
| Known for | Founding of the Trippon Fashion Center design school in Los Angeles |
| Television | Sew, What's New |
| Board member of | Hollywood Beauty League |
| Partner |
James W. Price
(m. 1942; died 2006) |
| Academic work | |
| Era | c.1950s-1970s |
| Institutions | Trippon Fashion Center, School of Dress Design |
| Notable students | Olive Osmond |
George W. Trippon (February 26, 1916 – January 1, 2010) was an American teacher, fashion designer and writer. He is known for founding the Trippon Fashion Center design school in Los Angeles during the 1950s[1] and for the long-running television show Sew, What's New?, which aired on The Learning Channel during the 1980s and 1990s.[2]
Early life
Trippon was born in 1916 in Aurora, Illinois, to parents George and Mary, both Romanian immigrants.[2] At age nine, he attended dance school and later appeared in a number of Hollywood musicals.[3][4]
He served in World War II as a U.S. Army Quartermaster, and after discharge, he studied fashion design in Paris and Los Angeles.[5]
He opened his own fashion-design school and operated it during the 1950s[1] where one of his students was Olive Osmond.[6] In 1956, he was elected president of the Hollywood Beauty League, an organization dedicated to promoting Los Angeles as a cultural hub.[7] He worked with both Rudi Gernreich and James Galanos in couture design.[8]
In the 1970s, Trippon began hosting the television show Sew, What's New? on local television in Los Angeles; in 1975, the show began airing on stations outside of Los Angeles with support from the Butterick Publishing Company.[9] In the 1980s, the show moved to The Learning Channel and broadcast there until the 1990s.[2]
Trippon also wrote several books on fashion design as well as memoirs. He died in Redondo Beach, California on New Year's Day in 2010.[4]
Published works
- Becoming a Dress Designer: What Every Designer Should Know 1970. 157 pgs. ASIN: B000Q9PDM0
- Sewing Tricks 'n' Treats. 1984. 59 pgs. ASIN: B000GU4OGK
- Let's Design, Cut, Sew, & Fit with George W. Trippon. 1985. 139 pgs, ISBN 9780935245035
- Pigeon Hill: Growing Up Romanian. 2001. 172 pgs. ISBN 9780595208999
- Ode to Jimmie: I Will See You Soon 2007. 62 pgs. ISBN 9780595451777
References
- ^ a b Staff (January 28, 1954). "Fashion Class students Will Travel Abroad". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved January 6, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ a b c staff (January 5, 2010). "Trippon, George W." Los Angeles Times. p. 13. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "George Trippon, 93, Designer to stars". groups.google.com. Chicago Sun-Times. January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "George W. Trippon Obituary". Daily Breeze. January 5, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ Staff (September 10, 1953). "Trippon Fashion Center Has Flexible Courses". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 29. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Calistro, Paddy (February 10, 1981). "Mother Osmond Keeps Close Eye On Marie". Indianapolis Star. p. 12. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ^ Staff (December 21, 1955). "Hollywood Beauty League Elects Officers for 1956". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ staff (February 22, 1975). "Daily Sewing Show Set By Channel 12". Santa Maria Times. p. 23. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ^ staff (August 17, 1975). "Pattern Firm Airs 'Sew, What's New?'". Sioux City Journal. p. 10. Retrieved November 30, 2025.