Frank Usher vintage costume jewelry

Frank Usher vintage costume jewelry
Founded in 1942, Frank Usher brand gained its notoriety when Anne Bruh (b. October 1922) and Max Bruh (17 August 1906 – 29 January, 1994) bought it in 1944. Accordingly, the brand name Frank Usher does not mean a specific person. Undoubtedly, buying a ready-made brand was a wise decision, as it allowed its owners to remain anonymous and not start their brand from scratch.
The dramatic life story of Anne and her husband Max, refugees from Nazi Germany, is worthy of a separate story, writing a book or making a film.
The Bruh family has made a significant contribution to the British fashion industry, making the company iconic and internationally renowned, with offices around the world.
Like most fashion houses, Frank Usher Limited began to create various accessories – scarves, ties and costume jewelry in the early 1980-90s. To create costume jewelry, the designers of the fashion house developed their own jewelry designs for certain collections, collaborating with jewelry companies and jewelers of that time. Traditionally, they used gold, metal alloys, faux enamel, resin, crystals and rhinestones. They sold jewelry in velvet pouches and with paper tags with printed Frank Usher logo on them.
In 1991, Max fell seriously ill and three years before Max’s death, Anne took over the fashion house, which she ran until 2000. She retired at the age of 78.

Frank Usher vintage costume jewelry

Born in 1922 to a wealthy German-Jewish family, Anne Jacobi lived near Düsseldorf. With the rise of the Nazis, Anne’s happy childhood ended when she and her brothers were beaten and her family’s business and property were confiscated. In 1938, Anne’s family had to leave Germany for Holland. However, without the necessary documents to cross the border, they ended up in a refugee camp. Finally, Anne managed to move to London and get a job as a typist and at the same time begin to learn English.

1944 became a happy and turning point in Anne’s life. In London, she met Max Bruh, also a German refugee, and married him. In the same year, they bought the already existing but inactive brand Frank Usher and founded their own fashion house. Working selflessly and hard, Max and Anne did everything themselves, from designing and financing, to managing and cleaning the floors. In addition, they raised two sons, Stephen and Robert.