Born in the United States, Elvia Gobbo studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York. After moving to Montreal, in 1964 she opened La Boutiga in a MacKay Street basement with her partner Lionel Walfish (Lionel and Elvia). In 1967, the two partners launched their first ready-to-wear collection under the brand name Luv Originals. Elvia Gobbo went on to create collections for several manufacturers, designing everything from dresses and sportswear to lingerie and knits. In 1972, her collection was shown in Paris. In 1977, she created collections of undergarments and loungewear for Daisyfresh Creations, the new company name adopted by lingerie manufacturer Dominion Corset. She was one of the founding members of the Fashion Designers Association of Canada in 1974.
Gobbo continued designing collections under her own name for various manufacturers in Canada and then in New York through the 1980s. Today she is a fashion photographer living in New York City.
Dress (detail), Elvia Gobbo, 1968. Gift of Jeanne-Mance Roy, M2012.93.3.1-2 © McCord Museum
Sources
elviagobbophotography.com External link
Lambert, Eleanor. «Elvia Gobbo», dans World Fashion : people, places, resources, New York, R. R. Bowker, 1976, p. 188-189.
Women’s Wear Daily, «Lionel and Elvia», 14 February 1967, p. 47.
Publication date
01/10/2004
Writing
Dicomode
