|
HBC has not yet qcquired much information on clothing manufacturers This is in part because much of the available information comes from retail catalogs rather than adverisements from manufacturers. We have noted some advertisements by manufacturers, often in women's magazines. There was also some advertising in up-scale magazines like New Yorker. Retailing advertisemrents in newspapers and mail order catalogs, however, were much more common. We woulf like to expand this section, but todate have had litt,e success in obtaining information. There are some complications here. Some large retailers like Sears would promote brand names such as Pilgrims. Sears did not actually do the manufacturing, but contracted the actual production with manufacturers and exclisively marketed the various brands. Another complication is the increaasing trend among companis in the United States and Europe to focus on marketing, creating brand awarness. Comanies like Nike then cointract out the acyual manufacturing in low wage countries. As a result, it becomes difficult to destinguish between brands and manufacturers. Some companies may own multiple brabds. Basically we have decided not to dstinguish between brabnds and manufactueres. For HBC's purposes, the design and marketing aspect is more important than the actual manufacturing operation.
Here are manufactirers of children clothing that we have found information about their activities. Here we are taking about regular clothes and outwear and not underwear or footwear, for which there are separate lists. We are hoping that HBC readers will assist us with this effort.
We at first thought that Hanna Anderson was a Swedish company. Actually it was an American company. The founder, Gunn, is from Sweden, and named the company after her grandmother. Being frustrated with the quality of clothing offered here in the states compared to her European roots,
she found some companies to make soft, yet durable clothing in styles and colors rarely seen here before. The company was founded in 1983. A reader is very impressed with thequality of the company clothes. Sge shars a letter to the company with us, "May I tell you how fabulous are your clothes. When my daughter was young, we used to dress her with Oilily. But prices were extremely
high and with a girl 8-9 y.o., it was not always in her taste because too different from other girls who were jealous. I fell it is different with Hanna Andersson. Hoping you will still do
nice things which make children so nice. I bought many things and I will do in the coming years."
We note an advertisement from the back page of an old "Donald Duck" comic book published in Sweden. The ad is from August 1969 and shows the fashion that was coming that fall! The manufacturer was Algots´, which
was the biggest company in Sweden for childrens´ clothes. They disapeared during the 1970s, when it became unprofitable to make clothes in Sweden and cheaper to import them from Korea and elsewhere! The boy with the very red jacket shows a very popular garment, even though that type of red wasn´t too popular! A reader writes, "I remember them myself - I had a similar one (I was 14 years old that summer!), but in blue! The material was some kind of synthetic fabric, almost like vinyl-coating or PVC! Since we are almost at the beginning of the 70s, boys and girls are dressed almost the same, as you can see! The word was "uni-sex fashion"! At the bottom of the ad you can also see the Royal crest, showing that
they were delivering clothes to the Royal family.
The British chain store BHS had their own brands of schoolwear.
A British reader recalls some advertisements from the 1950s for Banner schoolwear. A British reader recalls adverts from the 1960s and 70s. One advert read, "Banner shirts in regulation school greys". "These were more expensive clothes than the chain stores - and boys at my secondary school in the 1970s did have them." Another reader writes, "Other than chain-store own brands in the 1960s and 70s Trutex and Banner were the big two manufacturers as far as schoolwear goes - and they're still going. The newspaper ads I remember were from the chain stores. Banner and Trutex would advertise in more upmarket glossy magazines. The company has acquired Beau Brummel.
We do not know much about this American manufactrer of boys's clothing. We know they were operating in 1919 and located in New York. Their brand name was Wearpledge which they marketed a insured clothes for boys--a novel marketing approach given how boys wear clothes. The company guaranted garments over their "reasonable life". Bauman offered to actually replace garments. Bauman offered a range of garments for boys 1 1/2 to 18 years of age.
Beau Brummell (a British firm now owned by Banner) manufacturered good quality schoolwear such as blazers, jackets, trousers and skirts etc. A British reader writes, "I remember some of my own school clothes had this label, particularly my last four pairs of short trousers. Beau Brummell were a little on the expensive side and this is because of the excellent quality of both the material and the tailoring of the garment. I seem to recall when my shorts were given away, they were still wearable for sometime after I stopped wearing them. They were very comfortable and like all short trousers made around the 1950s they were cotton lined and had the Beau Brummell label sewn onto the lining."
Bleyle was one of the best known German manufacturers of children's clothes. The company was founded by Wilhelm Bleyle in Stuttgart. The company specialized in knitting, especially for childrens´ clothes. It was especially well lnown for its sailor suits ( „Matrosenanzug“ ).
Bleyle made the standard sailor suits that German boys wore before World War II.
The federal state of Baden-Württemberg celebrated in 2002 its 50th anniversary. Bleyle was mentioned in many events related to this anniversary together with such globally known companies as Daimler, Bosch, Voith etc.
|
Bobine means bobin in English. The Bobine company was founded by three young mothers, They saw a need to offer mothers traditional clothing with modern styling. They founded the company in 1989. Bobine creates, constructs and markets a complete collection of clothing for children from 3 month to 14 years of age. The clothing line includes clothing designed for healthy wear with needed accessories. They also offer school smocks. The company is a family concern created by two sisters and a cousin. Bobine uses quality raw material to create clothing of reasonable cost. The company sells both to individuals and stores. The smocks are sold to schools which have reportedly had trouble finding smocks.
We note a 1950s advert from Bradford textile for school clothing and clothing for physical training. A British reader writes, "Bradford was a big clothing manufacturing city near Leeds - my duffle coat, that my Grandparents bought me came from there - it had a label 'Made in Bradford' but I'm not sure if it was the same firm."
A reader asks, "Have you heard of a Blue Jean manufacturing company called Brownstein and Lewis? I was told that Charlie
Chaplin was endorsed by them. The appeal to denim and Charlie Chaplin on the time table does not seem to coincide, unless these were the jeans he wore in "The Gold Rush", and I was wondering if you had any knowledge of the company. I have been searching multiple sources and unless I can find the correct spelling of the company, time period in which they manufactured jeans or even if they were an American company, or any other information my research will be
incomplete."
Buster Brown was a popular comic strip character in the early 20th century. His creator was a marketing genius. Many companies were licensed go use the Buster Brown character. It was shoes that became the best known use of the Buster Brown character for marketing. Beginning at the World's Fair in 1904, Buster Brown became a household name in children's footwear. John A. Bush, a sales executive with Brown Shoe Company, came up with the idea that Buster Brown would be a perfect symbol for the compny's line of children's shoes. Brown Shoe Company was named for the company's founder George Warren Brown and not Buster. Bush persuaded the company to purchase the rights to the name from Outcault. The company then introduced Buster Brown Shoes to the public in 1904 during the St. Louis World's Fair. Bush went on to become president of the firm in 1915 and Chairman of the Board in 1948. Bush promoted the brand with national print, radio, outdoor, and eventually television advertising. The company eventually came out with a line of sturdy oxfords for boys. They named the strap shoes that both Buster and Mary Jane wore as "Mary Janes". I am not sure just when they did this. The name stuck with the public and Mary Janes became an American term for strap shoes and a staple in any well-dressed little girl's wardrobe. Today, Buster Brown remains one of the most recognized children's footwear brands, and is featured at mid-tier and department stores across the United States. It was not just Buster Brown shoes that were sold, but related products like socks and stocking supporters. Buster Brown shoes were produced by Frank Maynard. A recent introduction of a new logo and related promotional programs continue Buster Brown's reputation as one of the most famous brands of children's footwear in the United States.
A British reder writes, "The Yorkshire firm that made the underwear my grandmother bought us was called "Cherub" - or that may have been a brand name - again I don't recall that in London - why it stuck out.
Clarkes made school sandals.
Denbirayne made macintoshes. A British reader writes, "My brother and I had rubberized macs. I don't recall this firm - Denbirayne - there would be a lot of manufacturers as everyone had them and there were regional variations."
An advertisement for E-Z Waist Suits in Parents' Magazine [October, 1930, p. 72.] Note that the girl's suit is sleeveless
while the boy's suit has short sleeves. I believe, however, that both styles
are for either boys or girls. These suits appear to have no reinforcement
straps and are therefore, strictly speaking, untaped union suits rather than
waist union suits. See the Hanes advertisement in the Parents' Magazine
group, which gives options for both waist union suits with strap
reinforcements and untaped union suits.
|
The Elder Manufacturing Company, Inc. began producing clothing in 1916. We note the company producing children's clothing from the very beginning. Tom Sawyer was a brand name for the Elder Manufacturing Company boys' clothes. The garments came with a guarantee tag that says that Tom Sawyer clothes are made for "real boys". The brand ws a popular brand in the 1920s. We have noted ads for Tom Sawyer clothing in magazines at the time. Today the company is best known for school uniforms. The company now has a family of brands, including Becky Thatcher, Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain and School Days. Elder todays offers school uniforms in
K-12 sizes. Bruxton Career Clothing offers clothing for business settings.
The company reports, "Elder products include features that make them great values for the consumer - durable brass zippers, reinforced stitching, double knees (on selected models) and DuPont Teflon© soil and stain release finish to provide a school year's worth of wear. Our garments are fashion forward in design and styling, pleasing the most finicky student and their parents. Additionally, features such as the "grow" waistband and generous hem allowances ensure the growing child will be able to wear the same uniform throughout the school year."
Ergee was a Germam hosiery manufacturer. The firm made popular children's tights and stockings with a synthetic wool-like yarn called "Ergolon" which boys and girls liked because it did not scratch like earlier wool tights and stockings. Here you see the popular logo of the "chick" which the boy is holding--a way of advertising the softness of the yarn. These tights were obviously available in various bright colors which appealed to younger boys and girls. Ergolon was a synthetic yarn made from polyamide and polacrylics. The brightly colored tights were apparently designed for younger boys as well as girls. The older boys would presumably have preferred darker colors. Some boys wore tights without shorts or long trousers at home for purposes of playing or just relaxing. Normally they wore shorts, knickers, or long trousers over the tights for school or other outside activities.
We have very little information on the company at this time. We do note a 1922 advertisement.
Carl Freschl founded Holeproof Hosiery. He began experimenting with hosiery in his family store which was located in Kalamazoo, Michigan (1872). He moved his store to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His efforts were successful and the store became well estanished with areputation for high-quality, light, and durable hosiery.
The Holeproof Hosiery Company was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There were also subsidiaries in Sydney, Australia and Ontario, Canada. We do not know a great deal about the company, but it advertized widely during the 1920s. We note an advertisment in the St. Nicholas Advertisement during 1921. We note another advertisement in an unidentified magazine during 1924. The advertisements we have found show long stockings, but that the company had a much wider product line.
Vin Draddy, an American tourist, in the mid-1900s whilev visiting London stumbled across an elegant tailor shop named "Jack IZOD's". Vin was from New York and the president of David Crystal Co., which for some reason did not make crystal, but high-quality women's dresses. Vin was impressed with Izod's work. He made custom shirts for King George VI of England and other royalty. Jack IZOD's tailor shop was quite exclusive and Vin Draddy was both impressed an enchanted with Jack's unique surname and meritorious positioning. Every shirt Jack made had his name and the phrase "By appointment. Shirtmaker to the King." on the label. Vin had just began to divrsify by beginning a mens apparel business. He still had not settled in the name. He wanted a destinctive name to associate with the quality merchandise he was offering. Jack Izod was an elderly gentlemen thinking about retirement. Vin offered to purchase the rights for the exclusive use of the IZOD name and Izod accepted.
I believe that Vin began Izod clothing in the 1940s, presumably after the War. The company specialized in sports and casual clothes. It is one of the best known American brands. Izod became associated with quality knit sport shirts.
Famed tennis player Rene' Lacoste partnered with the David Crystal Co in 1951 to market a tennis shirt made of a new pique knit. This was at the same time that preppy fashions becae very popilar. The knit shirt, often clled a polo shirt (but not by Izod), was a instanteous success and adopted as a preppy standard. A good example of a Izod clothing is a tennis outfit offered in 1977. The jknit shirt was a particularly important item.
One company specializing in children's clothing during the 1920s was Kaynee. We do not yet know much about the company. We notice an advertisement for boys' school clothes in Good Housekeeping Magazine (September, 1927, p. 234). Interestingly the younger boy wears shorts with knee socks while the older boy wears knickers with what look like black long stockings.
Another manufacturers' brand name for boys' clothing sold throughout the U.S. was Black Cat. It was a brand of the Chicago-based Kenosha Hosiery Company. They made "Black Cat" stockings for boys and also for adults. They advertised in Good Housekeeping Magazine during the 1920s.
King Gee appears to be anothrer Australian manufacturer of school uniforms.
The Ladybird clothing for younger children was available in a wide range of clothing stores. There were shops that specialised in this company's outfits for boys and girls. I do not know if this range of clothing is still available. Freemans appears to be promoting the Ladybird brand. All their clothes had a label with a picture of ladybug on it. I'm wasn't sure at first why they weren't called Ladybug. [HBC note: It turns out that ladybugs are called ladybirds in Britain] There was also the usual information: size, washing instuctions etc. I'm sure Woolworths stocked their clothes as well as other stores and mail order catologues like Freemans here. They were at the cheaper end of the market, I think. A reader writes, "I recall having ladybird pyjamas and underwear." For a while they produced a free comic book for children. The Ladybird comic came as a supplement to the Ladybird catologue - kids would think it "cool" (they hoped) to wear clothes like those in the comic. And guess what? - those very clothes were included in the new ladybird catalogue which you could pick up in stores. The stories always featured children having various adventures--and of course showed them dressed in ladybird clothing. One story I remember featured a group of children being swept out to sea on a raft they'd made but as one of the boys was wearing a brightly coloured Ladybird vest they were able to hoist it up the mast and so get spotted by a passing liner!. I wonder if anyone still has any of these comics? Tthey were well-produced with quite realistic illustrations. There were a famous series of children's books called Ladybird Books--always with text on one page and illustrations on the other. These were very well illustrated. There were geared to very young readers with titles like "Going to School" and "Cubs" as well as a host of others. Their books were used as graded reading courses by some schools. I'm not sure if these were linked to the clothing manufacturer or not - I don't think they were.
Levis was suvch a dominant company for so many years that Levis became a term for jeans.
We do not know when the company was estanlished, but the catalog here shows that it was an established company in the 1880s. We notice pages from a J.B. Lewis Boot and Shoe Company catalog for 1887-88. The catalog included school shoes. The company was a manufacture. It was located in Boston and had a manufacturing plant in Abington. We know nothing more about the company at this time.
McCawley was an American clothing manufacturer. We do not know much about the company other than they were located in New York. We do know that they had a line of playclothes for younger children marketed under the Slipova brand. We note advertisements during the 1920s for rompers, sleepers, and play clothes for younger children from 2-8 years of age. The company also made middy blouses.
We do no know a great deal about this company. Presumably it is a Danish company. We know they make hosiery, including children's tights. They report in 2004 that they are going to bring out a line of boys' tughts. "We have some boy's tights from MP. They will be on our site in August 2004. Mp used to make the Oilily tights and still makes Hannah's ,so that is why you recognize the quality." We are not sure if their products are actually manufactured in Denmark or outsourced to lower cost plants in other countries.
Midford was an Australian manufacturer of schoolwear.
The Minneapolis Kinitting Works after World War I developed new styles of underwar for children. An ad in Parents' Magazine read, "Minneapolis "M" garments are universally accepted as the correct underdressing in juvenile styles. The fashionable French Type (short trunk) garments illustrated above are made for both boys and girls in all popular fabrics." The advertisement appeared in Parents Magazine during September, 1930, p. 45. This Minneapolis Knitting Works advertisement, timed obviously for mothers who were shopping for their school children at the beginning of the school year, advertises principally waists suits. The ad shows a wide range of underwear garments.
Patons & Baldwins Ltd. Woollen Mills were located in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia due to the abundance of fine quality wool available locally as well as a fine clean water supply. They were a major employer of labour - mainly female - for many years after WWII, until the parent company in England amalgamated with J.P. Coats (an English cotton thread manufacturer and supplier). The business was
re-named Coats Patons (Aust.) Ltd. and continued on until the late 1990's. The hand knitting wool section of the business had gone into the doldrums when cheap imports became prevalent and many of the staff were paid off but a small amount of manufacturing yarn was being made for other local garment knitting mills in the city. When these small mills were forced out of business by Government tariff
rationalisation, Coats Patons closed its Launceston plant. I'm sure there is information on the Web about this.
Pilgrim was a Sears store brand of hosiery. For a sample add for Pilgrim brand hosiery see a catalog page for long stockings in 1940.
We note the Reliance Manufacturing Company producing Honor Bright children's blouses, shirts, and playwear in the 1920s. We do not know much about the company. We do note an ad for boy's blouses--from The Youth's Companion (June 15, 1922,
p. 347). This ad appeared just as school was letting out in mid-June and appeals to boys and mothers who want to put their boys in blouses that will stand up under the strain of the activity of summer play. Notice that the boy in the illustration is running with his school books after being released from school. He wears a tie with his blouse, a striped blouse, above-the-knee knickers, and long black stockings.
Roots was aa imortant manufacturer of children's underwear in the early 20th century. The company was located in New York. The copy in a Root's ad read, "Root's Underwear is a comfort and a luxury at reasonable price. Made only from the best of the world's materials by the best American skill. No dye-stuffs. It is the perfect underclothing for the health of your children. It is made in different weights and to fit all sizes of people, from babies to
giants. Sold by principal dealers in New York and all large cities. If not by yours, write to Root's Underwear, 1 Greene St., New York."
A reader writes, "I found in Minnesota long stockings for children sold by a lady who bought them in a State fair. The brand name is Rock Rib. Those tan stockings seemed to be widely used in this region. Also in Iowa and Ohio." HBC knows nothing about the company at this time.
The Willy Schoenis & Co began producig tights to replace long stockings in Germany (1952). This was one of the first manufacturers. The advertisement from Willy Schoeneis & Co. in Gottingen is quite revealing. It is an appeal to mothers to switch from dressing their boys and girls in long stockings to dressing them in the more convenient and better-fitting tights. Note that the ad juxtaposes two images showing the old-fashioned long stockings, worn by the boy, with the innovation of tights, worn by the girl. The boy has one of his stockings down because the clasp on one of his hose supporters has apparently come undone, whereas this problem doesn't exist with the new invention of tights for children.
Sexton Manufacturing Co was a major manufacture of underwear in the United States. Sexton often advertized in Goodhousekeeping Magazine. The company was locted in Fairfield, Illinois.
Right-Posture was a brand of boys clothing for the Snellenburg Clothing Co., a Wisconsin manufacturer. We note in the 1920s that Right-Posture offed a full range of clothing, including boys' and girls' clothes. We do not know a lot about the company yet. They apparetly advertised in major magazines. The destinctive illustrations were done by JC Leyendecker who also did illustrations for Kuppenheimer, Arrow Shirts, and other manufacturers. Here are some of the children's clothes they offered in 1921:
Boy’s and Girls’ Ribbed Cotton Stockings 35¢ Wisconsin 1921
Girls Bob Evens Middy Blouses $2.75 Wisconsin 1921
Boys Cotton Sweaters 95¢ Wisconsin 1921
Wool Sweaters or Coats $1.98 Wisconsin 1921
Girls’ Serge Dresses (Wood Peter Tom Dresses, Navy, Braid Trimmed) $4.75 Wisconsin 1921
Zepher Yarn Sweaters $5.98 Wisconsin 1921
Children’s All Wool Sweaters $4.98 Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Black Sateen Bloomers 48¢ Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Union Suits 98¢ Wisconsin 1921
Childrn’s Union Suits 1.25¢ Wisconsin 1921
Boy’s Heavy Fleece Lined Underwear 98¢ Wisconsin 1921
Boys’ Part Wool Ribbed Untion Stuts $1.98 Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Vests and Pants 68¢ Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Black Cat School Stockings (Heavy Ribbed Cotton) 25¢ Wisconsin 1921
Boys Wool Tweed Two-Pants Suits $7.45 to $7.95 Wisconsin 1921
Boys’ Right-Posture Suits $12.98 to $16.50 Wisconsin 1921
Two-Piece Pant Navy Serge Pant Suits $8.95 Wisconsin 1921
Tweed Knickers (for 8 to 18 yrs.) $1.55 Wisconsin 1921
Boys’ Blouses (Various materials and styles) 69 ¢ and 98 ¢ Wisconsin 1921
Boys’ Knickers $1.48, $2.48, and $2.98 Wisconsin 1921
Velvet and Serge Suits (Oliver Twist and Middy Styles) $3.50, $5.00, and $5.95 Wisconsin 1921
Boys’ Shoes Dark Brown, Double-Wear Soled English Walker, Various Sizes From $2.65, Wisconsin 1921
Girls’ Calf Skin Shoes (Various Sizes) From $1.45, Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Pantyhose (Fine Combed Egyptian Yarn) 25¢ Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Hats $2.95 Wisconsin 1921
Children’s All Wool Sweaters $1.98 Wisconsin 1921
Girls’ Pure Worsted Zephyer Sweaters $4.98 Wisconsin 1921
Children’s Black Sateen Bloomers 48¢ Wisconsin 1921
Start-rite made school sandals.
The Stein Co. made Hickory Garters.
Hickory Garters were widely used by American children to hold up their long stockings. Hickory was a national brand name. They were sold all over the country in various stores and were widely advertised in magazines. They advertized extensively in Parents' Magazine. The fact that they were also sold by Sears doesn't rule them out.
A British reader recalls Dtoic flannel shorts in the 1950s and 60s. A British reader tells us, "Stoic is a Leeds firm - I can't recall that label in London - the firm could have gone bust - many did in the 60s/70s due to chain store own-brand competition.You can tell this is pre-60s as flannel school shorts were dying out."
We do not know a lot about Stubbies. We believe it was a brand of school and other children's clothes. Some of our Australian readers have mentioned Stubbies to us. Stubbies in Australia is a term used to mean short pants or bottles of beer. I am not sure if this usage appeared before or after the company. I believe the brand and the name of the company was the same. Hopefully our Australian readers can tell us more.
Townsend-Ueberchein was a clothing manufacturing company located in St. Joseph, Missouri. We know very little about the company at this time, except that they were an official Boy Scout outfitter. The note their promotional comic magazine "The Knicker". We also have some infornmation on their product line in 1931.
|
Trutex was one of the primary manufacturers of schoolwear in Britain. A British reader tells us, "I remember Trutex only from posters put up in shop windows.This was a more expensive range and was not sold in chain stores like BHS but through smaller menswear/boyswear shops (some of which also stocked the specialised items like blazers for individual schools that chain stores didn't sell). Trutex also did not advertise in the tabloid press like BHS did so these adverts also probably appeared in the more upmarket woman's magazines. They also did not sell through catalogues such as Freemans or Littlewoods. As you can see, Trutex tried to be a bit more 'fashionable' than the chain stores. [HBC noteL: See a 1969 advertisement.] HBC pointed out on the English school uniform page the waist tab feature of the shorts here. Another innovation was the round-collared (or penny-collared) shirts. BHS did not catch on to this style until a couple of years later when everyone wanted them rather then pointed-collar shirts."
We do not know much about Twika, except that it was a Dutch manufcturer, spdcializing we believe in woolen garmants. We note a Twika magazine ad, probanly from the early 50s.
We do not know a great deal about Otto Versand at this time. We believe that they are a major manufacturer of hosiery in Germany. We know that they market hosiery. They may well now manufacturer in other countries, but we have no details about this. They may produce more than just hosiery, but the products we have noted are prikmarily hosiery. Hioefully our German readers will provide some information about this company.
We have very limited information on the O. Williamson company.
It was located in Borås. The city of Borås was (and still is, but to a much smaller extent) the main place for manufacturing clothes in Sweden. It is situated about 30 min. to the east of Gothenburg in South-western Sweden. Today it is the dominating place of mail order catalogs. All we know for sure about the company at this time is that they were manufacturing sailor suits at the turn of the 20th century.
HBC has begun to develop information on the companies manufacturing and marketing underwear. Here the situation is somewhat complicated by the fact that companies had a variety of brands and major retailers like Sears have marketed house or store brands. Several companies have specialized in underwear. Many countries have companies that have focused on underwear, both in their own country and foreign markets. Much of our infornation at this time comes from the United States. The principal companies in America are today Haines and Fruit of the Loom. Haines has been given considerable visibility as a result of television ads featuring basketball star Michael Jordan. There have been several other American companies we have noted in the early 20th century. We have less information on the 19th century. The advertisement here is from the Minnesota Kniting Company (figure 1). We do not yet have detailed information on foreign companies.
A HBC reader tells us, "Probably the most well known brand of kids' shoes in the
United States, was "Buster Brown Shoes". The Brown Shoe Company was named after the founder, but decided to base base
the name of their line of kids' shoes on the famous "Buster Brown" comic
strip. Buster Brown Shoes were quite well known to millions of Americans.
By the 1940s, there was also a Buster Brown radio program, and the short subject at the Saturday afternoon matinee would often be a Buster Brown cartoon."
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Fashion magazines and store catalogs]
[Main photo/publishing page]
[Retail stores]
[Fashion magazines]
[]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[
Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Pinafores]
[Long stockings]
[Underwear]
