The Claire McCardell Project

The Claire McCardell Project is a tremendous undertaking by the women of the Frederick Art Club to honor fashion icon and Frederick native with a larger-than-life bronze sculpture, beautiful garden, and accompanying wayside exhibit.

Claire McCardell was born in Frederick, Maryland in 1905. She had three brothers and enjoyed playing outside and climbing trees. She was frustrated wearing dresses and skirts, corsets, and garments with highly structured seams that restricted movement. She needed clothes that allowed her to move freely. These kinds of garments were not available to women at the time, so Claire learned to sew and made her own.

“I’ve always designed things I needed myself,” McCardell said. “It just turns out that other people need them, too.”
After two years at Hood College, she made her way to Parsons School of Design to study fashion. With a combination of hard work, tenacity, and a little bit of luck, Claire’s designs hit the department stores and were a tremendous success. She presented American women with designs that could accommodate a variety of figures and that allowed the freedom of movement. Plus, she included pockets in nearly every garment.

Formed in 1897, the women of the Frederick Art Club sought a way to celebrate their 120th anniversary by honoring Claire McCardell. With only 7% of the statues in the United States honoring women, The Claire McCardell Project is a part of an effort to “shatter the bronze ceiling” with a monument to a woman, sculpted by a woman, and commissioned by a women’s organization.