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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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412 results for: Retail and Department Stores

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Image of Union Bay varsity-style jacket, ca. 1994

Union Bay varsity-style jacket, ca. 1994

Founded in 1981 and named after Seattle's Union Bay on Lake Washington, UNIONBAY is one of the city's longest-running jeans and casualwear companies. It caters specifically to a teen and young adult demographic.
ID Number:2018.68.2
Date:Circa 1994
Image of Fedora,

Fedora, "Peace hat," made by Sonia Wooten-Gill, 2017

Sonia Wooten-Gill is a local milliner and fashion designer whose line is called FayeWoo’s Signature Collection. She formed felt into this fedora shape by hand, using a hat block. Wooten-Gill enjoys designing, collaborating with other milliners, and increasing visibility for African Americans in the industry. She made the "Peace Hat Fedora" in 2017 because she felt "the times warranted a…
ID Number:2018.75.1
Date:2017
Image of Pair of Dr. Martens

Pair of Dr. Martens "Creepers," worn 1989-1997

These shoes were purchased by Seattleite Stephanie Kurtz either at Woolly Mammoth on University Ave or Nordstrom around 1989. She wore them throughout what would become known as the “grunge era” in Seattle. Heavy shoes from the UK company Dr Martens (known colloquially as “Doc Martens”) were particularly popular, and for women the heavy-duty shoes were often worn to contrast…
ID Number:2018.77.1
Date:Circa 1989
Image of Blush colored

Blush colored "Kandan Dress" with tie belt designed by Suk Chai, 2016

Seattle designer Suk Chai loves designing with luxurious and surprising textiles. This dress, from her line SCHAI, is titled the “Kandan Dress.” Kandan is the Korean word for “simple.” The dress has a basic shape, but is made in an alluringly plush and textural fabric.
ID Number:2019.8.1
Date:2016
Image of Dress,

Dress, "Rosa Lace" made by Paloma Hurtado, 2017

This dress is from Seattle designer Paloma Hurtado’s collection “Nómada.” The line combines fabrics and finds from Seattle, with historic and modern motifs from Mexico—her home country. The dress uses vintage lace from a local fabric store that Hurtado hand-dyed to evoke a colorful Mexican stained-glass window.
ID Number:2019.12.1
Date:2017
Image of Black hat with side bow from The Bon Marché, 1950s

Black hat with side bow from The Bon Marché, 1950s

This hat belonged to Maxine Gratias, who wore it while working as a secretary at the Firestone tire and auto repair shop on Westlake in South Lake Union. It was purchased from The Bon Marché, one of Seattle’s largest and most influential department stores. Edward and Josephine Nordhoff founded The Bon Marché in 1890. They were inspired by the famed…
ID Number:2019.14.2
Date:1950
Image of Blue-gray hat from The Bon Marché by

Blue-gray hat from The Bon Marché by "Eddi," 1950s

This hat belonged to Maxine Gratias, who wore it while working as a secretary at the Firestone tire and auto repair shop on Westlake in South Lake Union. It was purchased from The Bon Marché, one of Seattle’s largest and most influential department stores. Edward and Josephine Nordhoff founded The Bon Marché in 1890. They were inspired by the famed…
ID Number:2019.14.3
Date:1950
Image of Dress,

Dress, "3.21" from FEMAIL, 2017

Designers Janelle Abbott (Seattle) and Camilla Carper (Los Angeles) create imaginative garments under the name FEMAIL by mailing items back and forth. Calling the process “reactive collaboration,” they add and subtract elements in turn until the piece feels complete. This dress incorporates a Pike Place Market umbrella Abbott found abandoned outside her studio.
ID Number:2019.22.1
Date:2017
Image of Lowman & Hanford drafting set, 1910

Lowman & Hanford drafting set, 1910

The Lowman & Hanford Company, established around 1885, was a printing company and retail stationery business operating in Seattle's Pioneer Square. This drafting kit, sold by Lowman & Hanford and owned by Percy Kendall, was a cherished item for Percy's granddaughter Barbara Elizabeth "Liz" Kendall. Percy Kendall (1891-1940) received his engineering degree from the University of Washington and followed his…
ID Number:2019.36.1
Date:1910
Image of Candy box from Sutliff's Candy Company, ca. 1970s

Candy box from Sutliff's Candy Company, ca. 1970s

Sutliff's, a candy competitor of Frederick & Nelson's Frangos, was established in 1938 in Seattle and is most known for producing the delicious "Habits" chocolates that were sold by Nordstrom in the early 1980s. This particular box of "Mellow Mint Truffle" candies was sold in the 1970s.
ID Number:2019.37.1
Date:Circa 1970
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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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