Women’s entrepreneurship in fashion design during the 20th century. The case study of Teresina Negri and GRISINA

The general theme of this paper is the role of women in the development of business systems and in the creation and anticipation of design scenarios through invention products and registered models, in the women's clothing sector, during the 20th century. The case we are presenting here to the scientific community is the result of an ongoing original and unpublished research study concerning a female entrepreneur and creative mind, Teresina Negri (1879-1974). During the course of her life, characterised by different forms of creativity, she was able, according to the different periods and the socio-economic context, to give the most appropriate response to the evolution of customs and behaviors, becoming emblematic and a pioneer of a way of positioning the female figure towards a proactive society. In conclusion, the discovery and the research activity about Teresina Negri are gathering a multiplicity of documentary sources all over the world, that incorporate innovative aspects and offer an original contribution to the theme of the role of women, in the recent past, in design creations and business history and are emblematic of a creative fervour that has been able to combine inventiveness and entrepreneurial ability as well as social and economic affirmation.