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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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257 results for: Innovation and Invention

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Image of Sir Mix-A-Lot Iron Man hardhat, ca. 1988

Sir Mix-A-Lot Iron Man hardhat, ca. 1988

Sir Mix-A-Lot is the stage name for Anthony Ray, a popular rapper, hip hop performer, and recording producer born in Seattle and a graduate of Roosevelt High School in 1981. Sir Mix-A-Lot's first hit single was "Posse on Broadway" released in 1987 and refers to the Capital Hill neighborhood street in Seattle. This hardhat is a promotional item for his…
ID Number:2018.16.2
Date:Circa 1988

Cedar wood carving of Pacific King Salmon by Al Adams, ca. 1990

Al Adams, born in 1929 in Port Angeles, was a successful dentist on Mercer Island during his adult years. An avid fisherman and passionate supporter of protecting the salmon habitat, he was most known locally for building the first residential salmon hatchery on his own property in the 1970s. His work on wild salmon habitat restoration was written about in…
ID Number:2018.37.1
Date:Circa 1990
Image of Raincoat,

Raincoat, "Collette" by Clear Coated, 2018

Seattle designer Miriam Reynolds Rigby was inspired to create her line of clear raincoats because she disliked getting dressed up in a cute outfit only to cover it up with a raincoat to leave the house. She created the first version of her Clear Coated raincoat as part of a final project while attending the apparel design program at Seattle…
ID Number:2018.46.1
Date:2018
Image of Generra Hypercolor crewneck sweatshirt, 1991-1992

Generra Hypercolor crewneck sweatshirt, 1991-1992

Generra was founded in Seattle in 1980 by Britania employees. The company had a big hit in 1991 with Hypercolor—a fabric that changed colors with heat. However, Generra overinvested in the fad and they filed for bankruptcy in 1992.
ID Number:2018.57.1
Date:1991-1992
Image of Dress made of technical fabric, the

Dress made of technical fabric, the "Neo-Tech dress" made by Buki Brand, 2018

Buki, co-founded in Seattle in 2016 by employees from UNIONBAY and Tommy Bahama, makes garments with refined casual styles. They engineer their fabrics with properties found in athletic wear, like moisture wicking, and those found in traditional casualwear, like comfort and easy care. The sleek Neo-Tech dress is stretchy and nearly impossible to wrinkle.
ID Number:2018.58.1
Date:2018
Image of Workman Utilikilt, ca. 2006

Workman Utilikilt, ca. 2006

Utilikilts, founded in Seattle in 2000, are all about defiance—against cultural norms and mainstream menswear. Founder Steven “Krash” Villegas took the kilt—usually made of wool plaid—and fashioned it out of cotton canvas, which is used for durable, protective workwear. The result is a functional alternative to men’s pants that allows uninhibited movement. In Seattle, people wear Utilikilts everywhere from job…
ID Number:2018.60.1
Date:Circa 2006
Image of Orange and tan

Orange and tan "Ada" T-shirt made by YaJoe, 2018

Ya Joe was founded in 2015 to meet the clothing needs of “tech guys.” Ya Joe’s quality separates were designed with details such as personal device pockets, like those on the pant legs. However, the techies seemed to prefer a lower price point for their office-wear basics. As most start-ups do, Ya Joe pivoted. They now concentrate on a different…
ID Number:2018.61.1
Date:2018
Image of Red

Red "Almaz 'Fuss Free' Button Up" shirt made by YaJoe, 2018

Ya Joe was founded in 2015 to meet the clothing needs of “tech guys.” Ya Joe’s quality separates were designed with details such as personal device pockets, like those on the pant legs. However, the techies seemed to prefer a lower price point for their office-wear basics. As most start-ups do, Ya Joe pivoted. They now concentrate on a different…
ID Number:2018.61.2
Date:2018
Image of Dark gray

Dark gray "sindri" vest made by YaJoe, 2018

Ya Joe was founded in 2015 to meet the clothing needs of “tech guys.” Ya Joe’s quality separates were designed with details such as personal device pockets, like those on the pant legs. However, the techies seemed to prefer a lower price point for their office-wear basics. As most start-ups do, Ya Joe pivoted. They now concentrate on a different…
ID Number:2018.61.3
Date:2018
Image of TomboyX Next Gen Plum Rainbow 4.5

TomboyX Next Gen Plum Rainbow 4.5" trunks, 2018

Seattle-based TomboyX launched in 2012 to meet a need, though a different one than originally intended. Fran Dunaway wanted to design a better button-down shirt for women. The online fundraising campaign resonated with those looking for something different, but shirts were not what they wanted. So many people voiced a need for gender-neutral underwear that Dunaway and co-founder Naomi Gonzalez…
ID Number:2018.65.1
Date:2018
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MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
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