Purse restoration while falling down a fashion history rabbit hole #thrifting #restoration #goodwill

I found a Whiting & Davis silver mesh metal purse at the bins. This restoration only took a few minutes but the fashion history rabbit hole I went down revealed so much more!

Charles Whiting was just 16 years old when he went to work for Wade Davis & company in 1880. He quickly rose to the ranks of management and designed the first chain link mesh purse in 1892. Four years later, they raised enough money to buy their partners out and form the company we all know and love today: Whiting & Davis

The company later went on to patent the modern hoop earring closure and they popularized the Snake motif used on Queen Victoria's engagement ring. They've been in business for almost 150 years, standing the test of time. You probably recognize their archival pieces from runway looks by Lady Gaga, Emily Ratajkowski & Nicole Kidman.

I'll be unveiling a new brand history on Wednesday, so make sure you're following along ❤️

I used Wright's Silver Cream for this restoration. Removing the lining for cleaning proved to be quite the challenge but after I got everything threaded and secured, 80 years worth of grime lifted right off ✨️