Figure 1.-- The illustration from "The Youth's Companion" in 1885 shows a girl wearing the Stein stocking supporters, but the same supporters were equally for boys. Notice the model is shown wearing striped long stockings. The ad copy sressed, "Stein's Safety Stocking Supporters. No More Blood-Strangling Garters [i.e. round garters]. Recommended by All the Leading Physicians."

Before A. Stein and his brothers established the firm for making the well-known Paris garters and Hickory hose supporters in Chicago, another Stein brother, Lewis Stein, had already set up the "Lewis Stein Company" in New York City. Lewis Stein was also in the hose supporter business, and an advertisement for his supporters had already appeared in The Youth's Companion (1885).

Stein Brothers

We do not know a great deal about the Stein brothers. Lewis Stein settled in New York and founded by L. Stein company. Another brother Albert Stein founded the A. Stein Company. Three younger brothers worked with Albert in Chicago and in 1887 they began to manufacture men's garters in a rented room on Market Street. The Steins were part of the second wave of Jewish immigrants to the United States. It occurred in the mid-19th century and was predominately from Germany. German Jews played an important role in the American clothing and retailing industry. Best known of course is Levi Straus who created denim blue jeans. Other Jewish immigrants founded important department stores.

The Company

Before A. Stein and his brothers established the firm for making the well-known Paris garters and Hickory hose supporters in Chicago, another Stein brother, Lewis Stein, had already set up the "Lewis Stein Company" in New York City.

Product Line

Lewis Stein was also in the hose supporter business.

Marketing

We do not know a great deal about how the company marketed its products. We do know that the company advertized in The Youth's Companion. The ad here is an example and appeared December 31, 1885, p. 567.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Satellite sites] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Waist suits] [Underwear]

Created: 5:43 PM 1/19/2005
Last updated: 5:43 PM 1/19/2005