Rediscovered in the Summer of 2009, the Ascher scrapbooks are a visual record of the Ascher fabrics used by the French Couture. Zika Ascher began developing mohair fabrics in Scotland in 1956, adding 40% nylon to the traditional blanket weaves, so that they were strong enough to be sewn into garments. This breakthrough idea created an extremely lightweight wool that could be used for Spring coats, a must-have for the fashionable woman of the 50s.  Adding the Ascher color sense to the creative mix made the new mohairs irresistable to the great Couturiers: Givenchy, Lanvin-Castillo and Cardin began the trend. After the success of the 1957 introduction of solid mohair fabrics, Ascher began printing on them in 1958 and Pierre Cardin was the first to try the printed version. A true example of fabric inspiring fashion, the silhouettes of 1958 are brand new, each designer experimenting with this unique fabric in their own way. Also included in this scrapbook are designs by Laroche and Desses in Ascher floral printed silk.