Millinery Stall, Women's Exhibition

The Millinery Stall at The Women's Exhibition, May 1909. Seated in the centre of this image is the Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. The 'Women's Exhibition and Sale of Works in the Colours', was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union to publicise the 'Votes for Women' cause and raise funds for the campaign. This is one of several posed images taken by the photographer Christina Broom at the exhibition, many of which were subsequently sold as souvenir postcards. Over fifty stalls, decorated in purple, white and green displayed a variety of items for sale that had been donated or made by Suffragettes. To capitalise on the fund raising potential of the event every stall was expected to display goods at least to the value of £100. The Millinery Stall was the responsibility of the Kensington branch of the Women's Social and Political Union who were also in charge of a 'general' sales stall. In the weeks leading up to the exhibition branch organisers appealled in the Votes for Women newspaper for all members to ask both large retailers and private milliners with whom they had accounts for donations and contributions. In the February 11th edition of the newspaper Louis Eates, one of the Kensington organisers noted 'we have told our members that they must not buy themselves anything between now and May, so that they may have a full quarter's allowance to spend at the exhibition.' The Millinery stall proved one of the most financial successful at the two week exhibition, raising over £144, with only the Refreshment stall raising more funds. Much of this success was due to members successfully persuading both large retailers such as Liberty, Peter Robinson and Derry & Toms as well as smaller businesses such as Le Roy, Thelma and Violetta to donate hats, scarves and veils many of which were included the purple, white and green colourscheme.In an article in Votes for Women on 21st May 1909 Evelyn Sharp recounted how, during her visit to the Exhibition, she witnessed the unusual scenario of  women buying hats whilst complaining against the Government. For her the combination of female consumerism, femininity and political awareness represented a new 'woman of the future' who 'will know how to choose a hat that will allow her to hold her head up instead of down even in a high wind. And there will always be the making of a heroine in the woman who can do that'.