The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive

The role of clothing in establishing identity is an important trope throughout the book. What other examples of clothing as a mark of social or cultural differences exist throughout history? In your response, you might consider clothing’s ability to undermine authority, reinforce class distinctions, or represent social progress.

In her research for the book, Lucy Adlington consulted a survey of Auschwitz survivors that asked them about the reasons for their survival. She explains that “the majority of respondents ticked boxes for Luck, followed by Faith and Friends” (309). Examine the circumstances that resulted in the survival of two or more figures in the book. To what extent was survival a matter of luck, and to what extent did resourcefulness or initiative matter?

Levi Strauss, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, and Diane von Furstenberg are among several renowned Jewish fashion designers. Choose one or two designers and research their contributions to both the fashion industry and Jewish culture.