1930-40
fabric scrap
Fabric scrap ~8.5”x4”; green and blue flowers outlined in white and on a red ground; pinked on 3 sides, fourth edge = selvedge
During the depression, 1933-1935, farm housewives complained that the flour sacks and feed bags, which they had used for clothing and kitchen linens were too coarse, and their stamped trademarks too conspicuous for thrifty salvage. An oklahoma miller passed the word along to pacific mills, textile manufacturers, who promptly designed a line of bag materials that could be converted into attractive clothes, curtains, pillow covers. Other manufacturers followed suit and in one year, 50,000,000 flour and feed bags were made of smart cotton prints for the home dressmaker. Special finishes give the cloth a linen-like appearance. The brand name appears on a paper label which is easily soaked off, or in ink which disappears with the first washing. Special stylists watch fashion trends, and pacific mills alone makes bag cloth in 1,000 different colorful designs. The new bags cost a nickel extra; for this the housewife gets a yard and a quarter of derable, washable cotton with every 100-lb. Sack of feed. She may return the bag and get her nickel back, but millers say only bachelors make returns.
Provenance:
Construction Label:
print
1993T 1930.939
Fabric scrap ~8.5”x4”; green and blue flowers outlined in white and on a red ground; pinked on 3 sides, fourth edge = selvedge
During the depression, 1933-1935, farm housewives complained that the flour sacks and feed bags, which they had used for clothing and kitchen linens were too coarse, and their stamped trademarks too conspicuous for thrifty salvage. An oklahoma miller passed the word along to pacific mills, textile manufacturers, who promptly designed a line of bag materials that could be converted into attractive clothes, curtains, pillow covers. Other manufacturers followed suit and in one year, 50,000,000 flour and feed bags were made of smart cotton prints for the home dressmaker. Special finishes give the cloth a linen-like appearance. The brand name appears on a paper label which is easily soaked off, or in ink which disappears with the first washing. Special stylists watch fashion trends, and pacific mills alone makes bag cloth in 1,000 different colorful designs. The new bags cost a nickel extra; for this the housewife gets a yard and a quarter of derable, washable cotton with every 100-lb. Sack of feed. She may return the bag and get her nickel back, but millers say only bachelors make returns.
Provenance:
Construction Label:
1993T 1930.939