January 8: Stitched in Love

One of Elvis' many elaborately embroidered performance suits.

By Magdalena I. García

Internet sites report that Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley were joined by three thousand fans at Graceland today to celebrate what would have been Elvis Presley’s 75th birthday. Some fans traveled from parts of Europe to be in attendance. Presley died in 1977. He was 42 at the time and the unrivaled King of his rock n roll music genre.

I’m not an Elvis fan; never was. But I was listening to Chicago Public Radio earlier today, on my way to get a haircut, when I heard a very interesting interview by Dick Gordon, host of “The Story,” which airs daily. Dick was talking to Gene Doucette, who was a young designer specializing in embroidery back in 1972 when he got a call that would change his life: he was asked to help design jumpsuits for Elvis Presley's live concerts.

Gene talked to Dick about what it was like creating the elaborate costumes that are nearly as memorable as the songs—and which are on exhibit at Graceland. But get this: Gene never met Elvis! Gene says that there was a very well-defined hierarchy of people surrounding Elvis, and he was not high enough on the ladder to meet the King of Rock n Roll. But he did get feedback—through a long succession of intermediaries—that Elvis liked his designs.

Gene also talked about being paid peanuts for his anonymous work; alright, maybe it wasn’t peanuts, but $12.50 an hour was a very modest salary even in the 70s considering who he was working for! And yet, Gene speaks of delighting in his work, which he viewed essentially as an art form: the cloth became the canvas; the rhinestones, the tiles; the thread, the brush strokes…

As I listened to “The Story” I thought about how Jesus—the King of Kings—needs more disciples like Gene, who do their work honestly and quietly, with dedication and delight, without paying much attention to pay or recognition, trusting that their efforts are not in vain, and that perhaps one day they also will be known for the garments they stitched in love.