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Christine 50: First Year

FIRST POSTED ON: March 14, 2023

I began my business in 1972 with Jackie Warnock. We got a contract to make raggedy Anne and raggedy Andy costumes for all the Eaton’s stores Santa’s helpers across Canada. We made dresses, pinafores and bloomers for the girls and knickers with suspenders and shirts for the boys. We didn’t have a serger so they were all made with French seams on our domestic sewing machines. The wigs kept us up late at night wrapping red yarn around a pole and crazy gluing it on to a mesh skull cap. They were great and they lasted for years.

That Christmas we decided to participate in the Circle Craft Fair. It was held in the East Vancouver Cultural Centre (The Cultch), with a giant Christmas tree in the middle. I made blouses out of the silk and lace I had collected over the years. Jackie loved smocking so she made vintage styled smocks out of viyella. I was having difficulty finding silks, as that was what I had decided to use. I would scour the stores in Chinatown where I would find small bolts to work with. We sold some pieces and established a small clientele.

We had photoshoots using our friends as models and sometimes even I would get in front of the camera.

It was a time of discovery. What was it that would make my work a passion? I started collecting antique lace wherever I could find it, old buttons, ribbons and clothing from the 20’s and 30’s. My business grew.

I met my long-time friend and fellow designer Zonda Nellis who was also showing there. Jill Godfrey loved what I was creating and decided to come and work for me. It was about this time I moved to a larger house and got a sewing room.

“When antique laces, ribbons, threads, beads, buttons and bows are brought to life, resplendent on the purest of silks, the chances are Christine Morton of Vancouver has worked her magic.”

– Winnipeg Free Press, 1982

In celebrating my 50th anniversary, I have designed a creation for my black label collection to be released each month on my website. I am using fabrics and laces from my archives in limited quantities. The first of these is my Cupid Chemise as seen here.