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| feather inspiration boards right off the elevator at Dersh |
About three weeks ago I had the pleasure of stopping by Dersh Feather, an exquisite feather supplier in the Garment Center. Established in 1918, Dersh not only has an incredible selection of feathers for a variety of uses including millinery, costumes and high fashion, but is also headquarters to a friendly and knowledgeable staff. During my impromptu visit, Jon, the manager, and Jay, the owner, gave me a tour and crash course in different types of feathers, feather terminology, and even treatments and techniques.
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| Top right and left: Reeves's Chinese Pheasant feather |
Jon pulled out a number of unique and interesting feathers for me, the most prized of which was the sizable Reeves's feather coming from a type of Chinese pheasant. Not a feather for the faint of heart (or wallet), Jon cited this feather as being the kind used by designers such as Project Runway's Irina Shabayeva.
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| Even with an ordinary color like white, there are a ton of possibilities at Dersh |
Needless to say, Dersh is a go-to source for Broadway costumes, and the white feather fan (top left) will be featured in the upcoming musical "Catch Me If You Can." Jon also introduced me to the biot (bottom left) which is made from the matted half of feathers (I see lots of creative possibilities there).
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| more feathers that make an impression |
Jon also mentioned some of the treatments that can transform feathers, offering even more creative possibilities, such as dyeing (see the yellow feathers above) and acid burning (see the red feathers above).
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| wild turkey feathers |
Finally, Jon opened up his latest shipment: an assortment of wild turkey feathers. Rugged, natural, bold. Because what could be more American than that?
Dersh Feather & Trading Corp.
25 West 38th Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10018
tel: 212.714.2806
fax: 212.239.1407
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