Quality Material Stands Out
There’s just something about well-crafted textiles.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to feel a cheaply-made suit versus one made from quality material, you can instantly tell the difference.
The harsh, thin, plastic-like feel of synthetic fibers exposes a cheaply-made garment, while the lush, thick, smooth feel of pure fibers showcases a fabric made with great care.
In the early part of the 20th century, the Federal Trade Commission Act was established to protect consumers from deceptive advertising and trade practices and to ensure transparent and honest product information from businesses.
The FTC took specific action against false advertising in the textile industry with the implementation of the Wool Products Labeling Act in 1939 — consumer protection legislation (also known as the “Truth in Fabrics” bill) that established clear guidelines for the labeling of products containing wool fibers.
This act required that labels accurately define the presence of wool and disclose the percentages of wool fibers in the product composition. By doing so, the law effectively safeguards consumers from misinformation, counterfeit alternatives, and blends that may misrepresent the actual content of wool in the product. The WPL plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and maintaining the integrity of wool-based products in the marketplace. For the purposes of the act, wool refers to the fiber obtained from sheep or lamb fleece, or Angora or Cashmere goat hair. It may also comprise specialty fibers from camel, alpaca, llama, and vicuna hair. (Source: FTC)
Julius Forstmann, a German immigrant with a family history of fabric-making founded Forstmann & Huffmann Company in Passaic, NJ in 1904.
Forstmann designed their own fabrics, but did not produce finished clothing. Forstmann products were very high quality, and their label was proudly displayed alongside that of the garment makers.
They founded the National Quality Maintenance League and were a sponsor of the "Truth-in-Fabrics" bill, as it helped differentiate their fabrics.
In 1957 the company was purchased by textile giant J.P. Stevens. The company was acquired by Canadian company Victor Woolens in 1999. Today the company is known as Victor Forstmann.
These are some of the wonderful vintage ads of Forstmann materials from the late 1940s and early 1950s. Click to enlarge any of them.
These models look classy AF.