In the 1960s, Jewish fashion designers and tailors played a major but often overlooked role in shaping the iconic style of The Beatles and the global fashion scene. A new exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands is spotlighting these important Jewish contributions.
When The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein wanted to revamp the band’s image, he turned to tailor Cecil Gee, born Sasha Goldstein, a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania. Gee crafted the Beatles’ signature slim-fitting suits with rounded collars.
Beyond tailoring, Jewish designers dominated London’s Carnaby Street boutiques during the Swinging Sixties. The exhibition recreates a Carnaby Street shop and other immersive spaces to transport visitors to this era. On display are fashion items, photography, oral histories, and more.
Featured designers include milliner Otto Lucas, who made hats for Greta Garbo and Wallis Simpson. Other standouts were the tailor who anonymously crafted one of the exhibition’s most exquisite 1960s suits and multiple ready-to-wear pioneers.
By highlighting the Jewish roots of these tastemakers, the exhibition aims to honor a community that profoundly shaped but has not received due credit for revolutionizing fashion in the 1960s.