Tori Richard in the 1960's

In the 1960’s, Tori Richard established itself as one of the nation’s premier purveyors for women’s resort wear. Prints were bold and dramatic. The primary fabrics were 100% cotton sateen and jacquards along with some silk weaves. Exclusive stores across the country loved the powerful statement Tori Richard garments made in advertisements and window displays. As was the trend at the time, the A-line dress was the most popular style.

In 1966, Mort Feldman & Howard Hope of Sun Fashions, as vice president and president of the Hawaii Fashion Guild, lobbied the state legislature to proclaim every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, “Aloha Friday. The measure was adopted and “aloha attire” became the official dress of the state of Hawai‘i. This effort is largely credited as the precursor to the national Casual Friday movement in the 1990s.

By 1968, Tori Richard had nearly 200 employees with dedicated showroom offices in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. Tori Richard women’s sportswear could be found in the best stores of the era; Saks Fifth Avenue, I. Magnin, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Marshall Fields and Nordstrom, to name a few. The company archives are full of advertisements in Vogue Magazine, Harpers Bazaar and The New York Times.