Autorka se věnuje psaní pro mladé dospělé čtenáře a čerpá inspiraci z historie, zejména z období druhé světové války. Její díla zkoumají životní osudy lidí v nelehkých historických okolnostech, jako jsou například krejčové v Osvětimi, nebo příběhy židovských uprchlíků. Kromě beletristické tvorby se autorka zabývá i historií módy, o níž přednáší a píše odborné publikace, přičemž klade důraz na propojení oděvů s životními příběhy žen. Její psaní se vyznačuje hlubokým zájmem o to, co se děje po skončení hlavního příběhu.
Skutečný příběh žen, které šily šaty pro nacistickou smetánku, odhaluje životy pětadvaceti převážně židovských vězeňkyň z Osvětimi. Ty byly vybrány do módního salonu založeného Hedwig Hössovou, manželkou velitele Osvětimi Rudolfa Hösse, a měly za úkol navrhovat, stříhat a šít elegantní šaty pro ženy vysoce postavených nacistů. Věřily, že tato práce je ochrání před plynovými komorami.
Autorka, historička Lucy Adlington, čerpá z různých zdrojů, včetně rozhovorů s jednou ze švadlen, a zdůrazňuje lásku a přátelství, které ženám pomohly přežít a aktivně se zapojit do táborového odboje. Skrze jejich zkušenosti v kontextu nacistické politiky odhaluje chamtivost, krutost a pokrytectví třetí říše. Tímto způsobem nabízí čtenářům nový pohled na málo známou kapitolu druhé světové války a holokaustu.
But this was Birchwood. For fans of The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the
Striped Pyjamas. As fourteen-year-old Ella begins her first day at work she
steps into a world of silks, seams, scissors, pins, hems and trimmings.
The journey through Great War Fashion is not just about the changing clothes
and fashions of the war years, but much more than that - it is a journey into
the lives of the women who lived under the shadow of war and were irrevocably
changed by it.
Riffling through the wardrobes of years gone by, costume historian Lucy
Adlington reveals the rich stories underlying the clothes we wear in this
stylish tour of the most important developments in the history of fashion,
from ancient times to the present day.
Lucy Adlington tells of the horrors of the Nazi occupation and the
concentration camps from a fascinating and original angle. She introduces us
to a little known aspect of the period, highlighting the role of clothes in
the grimmest of societies imaginable and giving an insight into the women who
stayed alive by stitching’ – Alexandra Shulman, author of Clothes…and other
things that matter ‘Compelling… Adlington tells the stories of the women with
clarity and steely precision’ – Jewish Chronicle ‘An utterly absorbing,
important and unique historical read’ – Judy Batalion, NY Times bestselling
author of The Light of Our Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters
in Hitler’s Ghettos ‘Powerful… a fascinating account.’ – Woman The powerful
chronicle of the women who used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust,
stitching beautiful clothes at an extraordinary fashion workshop created
within one of the most notorious WWII death camps. At the height of the
Holocaust twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau
concentration camp – mainly Jewish women and girls – were selected to design,
cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It
was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers. This fashion
workshop – called the Upper Tailoring Studio – was established by Hedwig Höss,
the camp commandant’s wife, and patronized by the wives of SS guards and
officers. Here, the dressmakers produced high-quality garments for SS social
functions in Auschwitz, and for ladies from Nazi Berlin’s upper crust. Drawing
on diverse sources – including interviews with the last surviving seamstress –
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz follows the fates of these brave women. Their
bonds of family and friendship not only helped them endure persecution, but
also to play their part in camp resistance. Weaving the dressmakers’
remarkable experiences within the context of Nazi policies for plunder and
exploitation, historian Lucy Adlington exposes the greed, cruelty, and
hypocrisy of the Third Reich and offers a fresh look at a little-known chapter
of World War II and the Holocaust.
Set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, this narrative follows four Jewish girls whose lives intertwine through the symbolism of everyday garments. As their stories unfold, the book highlights the profound connections formed through shared experiences, illustrating how the ordinary can become extraordinary in times of adversity. The author, known for exploring themes of resilience and survival, sheds light on the personal and collective struggles faced by these girls, emphasizing the power of human connection amidst tragedy.
