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In February, 1955, Angier Smith, merchandise manager of E. I. duPont de Numours, with two assistants, came to the studio. The problem: To find new uses for the new manmade fibers brewing in the firm's chemistry laboratories. I had had some experience with synthetics through working with Lurex, a vinyl thread and so I was able to give the duPont emissaries some ideas for their synthetics. The meetings eventually resulted in a contract and once again I was in a stable position, financially. Meeting the payroll ceased to be an anxiety.

It took some learning. About textile machinery and techniques I knew just about everything the technicians knew. But to work in the eerie world of chemistry, finding the means to use the new synthetics, was almost like going back to grammar school.