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A. & L. Tirocchi used printed garment tags measuring approximately 4" x 10" to record basic information about a garment. On the face of the tag, which would be pinned to a garment, the following is printed:
The Tirocchis generally did not need to record an order number or "sold by" information, but usually did record the remainder. On the reverse, there was a section for measurements, but most of the tag was used to detail the cost of the garment. The amount used and cost of each was recorded for "material, lining, laces, trimmings, findings (snaps, zippers, etc.), and extras." Then specific charges for shop personnel could be recorded, for "designer, fitter, waist hand, coat hand, skirt hand." The "hands" were seamstresses that specialized in a certain area as described. Finally, an overhead figure could be added before the charges were totaled. The remaining garment tags in the shop usually don’t detail the charges in this way, but this tag for a dress sold to a Newport client is unusually specific and gives the curators a good idea of how Madame Tirocchi determined the charges for her garments. Of particular interest is that she included a design fee and an overhead charge. The final section on the garment tag had lines to record "1st fitting, 2nd fitting, 3rd fitting, and delivery" dates. Very few of these tags remain in the shop. They were probably discarded after the dresses were delivered and the information transferred to the appropriate ledgers. The existence of just these few, however, lends additional insight into the dressmakers’ working and pricing methods. ^back to top
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