|
Advertising is directly related to technology This is because advertising is all about reaching people. And technology impacted the ability to reach people. The fist type of advertising was signage, basically some kind of sign placed outside a shop or other business establishment. We see very basic signs in ancient cities, most prominently Rome. Or there might be a display of some kind, even before windows were developed. Signs were mostly painted until he 20th century. Signage became much more elaborate in the 20th century. And as people became more mobile, especially with the advent of the automobile, we not only see signage outside a hop, but elaborate signage along roadways. The next major step in advertising was printing. We are not sure about China, but printing in Europe began as printing the Bible and religious tracts (15th century). It did not take long for advertisements to appear in broadsheets and eventually newspaper and magazines. Stores began to publish catalogs which when mail order was developed could be quite large. Printed ads, however, were not very eye catching. And until the late 19th century, printed images was very crude. Engravings could be made , but this was too expensive for advertising. Gradually lithography improved, but it was not until the turn of the 20th century that photographs could be printed and at first only in black and white. The next major step advanced advertising exponentially--media. The first major media was the movies (1890s). There could be some advertising, but it proved to be a not very effective medium for advertising. Electronic media was another matter. Radio proved to be a very effective media for advertising (1920s). But again there were no visual displays which impacted what could be marketed. As we are primarily interested in clothing, this was a product that could not be easily marketed. Television was very different matter (1940s). Unlike the movies, it was a very effective visual medium for advertising. Finally we come to the internet which has proven a very effect medium for both advertising and marketing clothing.
Advertising is directly related to technology This is because advertising is all about reaching people. And technology impacted the ability to reach people.
The fist type of advertising was signage, basically some kind of sign placed outside a shop or other business establishment. We see very basic signs in ancient cities, most prominently Rome. Or there might be a display of some kind, even before windows were developed. Tailors, dress shops, millineries, and other clothing shops would display their work in windows. Signs were mostly painted until he 20th century. Signage became much more elaborate in the 20th century. And as people became more mobile, especially with the advent of the automobile, we not only see signage outside a hop, but elaborate signage along roadways. The next major step in advertising was printing.
We are not sure about China, but printing in Europe began as printing the Bible and religious tracts (15th century). The first European book published in the est was the Gutenberg Bible (1455). I would be two centuries before the Arabs began printing. It did not take long for advertisements to appear in broadsheets and eventually newspaper and magazines. Stores began to publish catalogs which when mail order was developed could be quite large. Printed ads, however, were not very eye catching. And until the late 19th century, printed images was very crude. Photography was developed in France (1839). I was potentially a major technology that could be used for advertising. Engravings could be made , but this was too expensive for advertising. Gradually lithography improved. One impact of that was trade cards which were popular for several decades (1876 and 1904). Today hardly remembered. It was not until the turn of the 20th century that photographs could be printed and at first only in black and white. We have discussed several different publications, mostly magazines, in HBC. Many are publications which carried illustrated articles, both drawings and photographs, along with information about fashion trends or historical developments of interest to HBC. Most of these publications also carried advertisements. Some rarely had clothing advertisements while others often included clothing advertisements. We also notice magazines of relatively limited int erst to HBC that did gave clothing advertisements. Some of the magazines specified in certain kinds of clothing advertisements. These clothing ads when we could determine the date are archived in the HBC catalog/advertising section. Advertising is of course not only publications. There are a range of other media. One interesting medium is the German Litfaßsäule/Morris Tower. There are various comparable ways of displaying posters and displays in public. Radio was not very effective for selling clothing, bus a visual medium like television is. And of course the internet is medium particularly suitable for selling clothing. May manufacturers and retailers have websites.
The next major step advanced advertising exponentially--media. The first major media was the movies (1890s). There could be some advertising, but it proved to be a not very effective medium for advertising. Electronic media was another mater. Radio proved to be a very effective media for advertising (1920s). But again there were no visual displays which impacted what could be marketed. As we are primarily interested in clothing, this was a product that could not be easily marketed. Television was very different matter (1940s). Unlike the movies, it was a very effective visual medium for advertising. Finally we come to the internet which has proven a very effect medium for both advertising and marketing clothing.
The next major step advanced advertising exponentially--media. The first major media was the movies (1890s). There could be some advertising, but it proved to be a not very effective medium for advertising.
Electronic media was another matter. Radio proved to be a very effective media for advertising (1920s). But again there were no visual displays which impacted what could be marketed. As we are primarily interested in clothing, this was a product that could not be easily marketed. Television was very different matter (1940s). Unlike the movies, it was a very effective visual medium for advertising. TV advertising began modestly in the late-1940s and by the 1950s was a major force in the American economy. Children frequently figure in advertisements. In fact many child stars began their career acting in commercials. An analysis of the costumes in this commercials yield some interesting insights into fashion trends. Television only began to be commonly watched in the early 1950s. Finally we come to the internet which has proven a very effect medium for both advertising and marketing clothing.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main advertising page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Girls]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
