The Simple Dress Worn by Marie-Antoinette that Helped Strengthen Slavery in the Deep South
Cotton became king in the U.S. thanks to the former French queen
In 1783, Marie Antoinette posed for painter Elisabet Louise Vigée Le Brun in a simple cotton gown.
Unbeknownst to her, this portrait is now viewed by many historians as the dress that ignited the slave trade.
Marie Antoinette was famous for her lavish spending and over the top fashion. In the Vigée Le Brun’s portrait, her simple attire caused a stir.
Her critics viewed the dress as too raunchy because of the thin white fabric. Besides, the former queen was called a traitor because she wore cotton.
French people despised this fabric because it was associated with the English, their bitter enemy.
The vast majority of cotton came from India, and thanks to the East India Company, it was spread across Europe.
The French viewed the dress as unfit for a Queen, but numerous women dismissed the critics.
Fashionistas all over Europe fell in love with the dress, and the value of cotton skyrocketed.
The East India Company made a lot of money, but it became difficult to keep up with the high demand…
