1881 Josephine Cochrane

Inspiration I have found in Museum collections and purpose could be a 1880s Bluse.
In the 1880s, blouses, also known as “Waist” or “Shirt-Waist,” were a popular garment primarily worn by women.



Josephine Cochrane, later known as Josephine Garis Cochrane, was an American inventor born on March 8, 1839. She is best known for inventing the first commercially successful dishwasher in the late 19th century. Cochrane’s innovative dishwasher design utilized water jets and a dishrack to hold tableware in place, revolutionizing the way dishes were cleaned at that time. Despite facing challenges such as financial difficulties and societal norms of her era, she persisted in bringing her invention to life and eventually founded the Garis-Cochrane Manufacturing Company to manufacture her dishwashers. Her invention gained recognition at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, where it won an award for its design and durability. Cochrane’s legacy lives on as her company eventually became part of KitchenAid through acquisition by Hobart Manufacturing Company.