Alison Settle, 1891-1980

In a career spanning from the early 1920s to the early 1970s, Alison Settle worked as a fashion journalist. She was a tireless champion of the interests of women, as well as campaigning for good quality, affordable design through her relationships with designers and manufacturers. Settle sought to improve design standards in all areas of manufacture and production, and contributed to the work of both the Council for Art & Industry and the Council of Industrial Design. She remained one of the best known fashion journalists in the country.

Settle was born in Kemp Town, Brighton, in 1891. She intended to read History at Oxford, and won a bursary to Somerville College, but was unable to attend because of lack of funds. Instead she attended a secretarial college and eventually moved into journalism. She wrote first for the 'Sunday Pictorial' and before the end of the 1920s had worked for 'Sunday Herald', 'Eve' and the 'Daily Mirror'.

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