Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
9-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Biography and Memoir
Advisor
Kate Culkin
Subject Categories
Fashion Business | Nonfiction | Women's History
Abstract
From 1922 to 1973, Ida Rosenthal made women's breasts her business. As the co-creator and CEO of Maidenform, she developed the company into one of the world's most successful intimate apparel businesses. It was under Ida’s tutelage that Maidenform produced an array of innovative products that shaped women's bodies and became an American icon for their "I Dreamed" campaign. She built Maidenform into an international corporation, a famous name, and a legacy brand while living an incredibly full life with as many peaks and valleys as the company she created.
For this study, I focused on the early years of her life, beginning at birth to the opening of Maidenform's first factory in the early 1930s. By concentrating on this timeframe, I have developed a narrative of the cultural, educational, and personal foundations that Ida utilized to become a powerful businesswoman.
Recommended Citation
Holt, Sierra B., "Why Fight Nature? A Biography of the Early Life of Ida Rosenthal" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/4594