In the 1960s and ‘70s, Furman alumna Frankie Welch made waves as a prominent designer. After she graduated in 1954 and opened a boutique “with American clothes, for American woman” in Virginia, her designs caught the attention of Lady Bird Johnson, who asked her to create a scarf for the 1968 “Discover America” campaign. Now registered in the White House Historical Association, Welch fashioned bipartisan scarves and dresses for D.C’s political elite for over forty years.
Along with her political designs, Welch created custom and commercial garments, including a silk Furman University scarf unveiled in 1969 and sold in its bookstore. A personal stylist, she held consultations and lectures, including a 1966 talk in Greenville. A keen businesswoman, Welch also designed mainstream dresses, including a popular design known as “The Frankie.” With her prestigious designs, the Upstate graduate has earned status as an Americana fashion icon.
