Rebecca Jumper Matheson, author of Artisans and Designers: American Fashion Through Elizabeth and William Phelps, is featured in a new interview with New Books Network, where she discusses her research and the stories behind the book in this engaging audio conversation.

“Long before the fashion industry formally addressed questions of sustainability and advocated for “slow fashion,” William and Elizabeth Phelps, a husband-and-wife design duo, were already working to create handcrafted leathergoods and functional women’s sportswear that could be worn for decades. Active from the 1940s to the late 1960s, Phelps Associates quickly won acclaim and found commercial success, attracting a broad clientele and becoming known for quality, utility, and craftsmanship.”—From the book’s description

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