Collection of 34 "Facts about Fabrics" Brochures Issued by the National Institute of Drycleaning, 1949-1956
Softcover. Fine. Thirty-four brochures, each 6" x 3.25", with two pages of text, illustrated cover, and publication details on the back. Each is numbered and identified as part of the Facts about Fabrics series, which ran to more than 50 issues. All are in fine condition. This eye-catching series of booklets was the brainchild of Dr. Dorothy Siegert Lyle, Director of the Consumer Education Division of the National Institute of Drycleaning. A former Professor of Home Economics at Ohio State University, Lyle was an authority on textiles who made it her mission to keep dry cleaners, retail store buyers, and the American public up to date on the latest developments in the manufacture and care of fabrics of all kinds. "As an author and lecturer she travels over 50,000 miles each year talking about fashionable fabrics and their care and explaining the responsibilities of the drycleaners and buyers to the customer," reports a contemporary newspaper article. Written at a time when synthetic and blended fibers were relatively new to the market, Lyle's Facts About Fabrics brochures all have the same simple message at their core -- chose your clothes wisely, understand what they are made of, and don't blame your drycleaner for problems (fading, shrinkage, etc.) that are inherent in the fabric itself. Of course, they also encourage consumers to take their garments to the drycleaner rather than taking the risk of washing them at home. Among the topics covered in this grouping: the effects of perspiration on your summer clothes, how much a garment can shrink before it becomes unwearable, problems encountered when cleaning rayon, what fabrics best maintain pleats, selecting a petticoat that will remain full, understanding cotton and nylon combination fabrics, shoulder pads that break down when cleaned, avoiding damage to fur-pile garments, bias-cut skirts that develop uneven hemlines, caring for felt ("the surprise fabric of the year"), cautions for dry cleaning flock prints, fading and bleeding of flourescent dyes, avoiding getting lipstick on your clothes, considerations in selecting a leather coat, and more. Collectively, these offer interesting insight into the fabric and fashion trends of the early 1950s as well as a clever and appealing consumer relations campaign.
Item #22274
Price: $200.00