The Dressmakers of Auschwitz

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Lucy Adlington presents a gripping account of the Holocaust, focusing on the role of clothing and the resilience of women who used their sewing skills to survive. Highlighting a lesser-known aspect of this dark period, she tells the stories of young inmates at Auschwitz-Birkenau who were selected to work in a fashion workshop, creating garments for elite Nazi women. This workshop, known as the Upper Tailoring Studio, was established by the camp commandant’s wife and served as a means for these women to avoid the gas chambers. Through interviews with the last surviving seamstress and various sources, Adlington chronicles the lives of these brave women, illustrating how their bonds of family and friendship helped them endure persecution and resist in their own ways. The narrative exposes the greed and hypocrisy of the Third Reich while providing a unique perspective on a harrowing chapter of World War II. This powerful chronicle not only sheds light on the fashion workshop's significance but also honors the courage of those who navigated unimaginable circumstances to create beauty amid horror.