Frank Usher Aboriginal inspired long dress 1970s

Evening dress
1970s
England
By ‘Frank Usher’
This dramatic dress has a hand silk-screened Aboriginal motif printed onto a cotton and Terylene blend batiste-type fabric.
In the 1960s and 1970s especially, Australian fashion manufacturers and designers tended to use the work of local textile designers rather than sourcing their materials from overseas or large textile manufacturers. During this time Australian textiles and fabrics cut a credible swathe in the European and east coast USA markets. It is assumed Frank Usher bought this Australian designed and manufactured fabric to use in one of his collections.
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/modern-austn-fashion-textiles

The same black gauze cotton fabric but without the Aboriginal motif is used on the bodice. This creates a fitted effect. The sleeves and cuffs are classic. A back zipper allows the decorative lacing on the front bodice to remain just that. The dress is fully lined in plain black gauze fabric. Several layers of thin, transparent gauze fabric creates stiffness and shape and keeps the effect opaque.

Other information
Frank Usher opened for business in 1946 in London. The company’s specialty was bringing high end details and fresh off the runway inspirations at a more moderate price range, emulating such designers as Ossie Clark, and often incorporating high end details such as elaborate embroidery.
http://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/frank-usher/

In 1944 Frank Usher was started up during wartime austerity and rationing. It was at a time that all manufacturers needed textile trading coupons to operate. So armed with both coupons and a ready made name of Frank Usher the company was formed.
A first collection of tailor made dresses was produced and sold to a London department store. Success followed quickly as women loved the idea of buying a couture look at realistic prices - especially since Christian Dior had introduced his new look.
Frank Usher opened their first west end showrooms in the mid fifties and started to create a solid UK and international business. The press too got the Frank Usher bug, and Vogue featured many dresses modelled by such luminaries of the day such as actress Kay Kendall and top model Barbara Goalen.
During the sixties and seventies when swinging London was at its peak, the label was going from success to success. There is a film, made in the late sixties, called Blazes Away it usually comes round on the BBC at Christmas time and stars dame Maggie Smith. It is set in a couture boutique and Frank Usher designed the wardrobe for the entire film.
Vintage Frank Usher is always being featured in the press, and a recent article on Liberty's vintage department cited Frank Usher as being one of the most coveted collector's labels.
The eighties and nineties saw the steady growth of the export market, to over fifty countries, with two prestigious UK export awards presented by her Royal Highness the Princess Royal at award ceremonies held at the Mansion house.
Her Royal Highness recently visited the Frank Usher Mayfair Showroom in her capacity as President of UK fashion exports.
http://www.frankusher.co.uk/about-us.html