User:Seablunt/GDR Fashion Institute

GDR Fashion Institute (Modeinstitut der DDR from 1972-1990, German Fashion Institute or Deutsches Modeinstitut from 1957-1972, originally Institute for Clothing Culture or Institut für Bekleidungskultur from 1952-57) was the government organization responsible for researching, designing, and marketing clothes in East Germany. It operated as a subsidiary of the Ministry for Light Industry.

History
The first director was Elli Schmidt, the former chairwoman of the Democratic Women's League of Germany and leading figure in the ruling SED party. After her fall from grace for criticizing Walter Ulbricht's responsibility for the East German uprising of 1953, Schimdt lost her roles in the SED Central Committee and the Democratic Women's League, but was not excluded from the party. As a trained tailor and seamstress, she was granted the much less prestigious directorship in January, 1954.