Dress
PeriodCirca 1965
Place MadePennsylvania, U.S.A.
MediumWool knit, plastic sequins, goldtone metal studs, steel zipper, cotton
Dimensions40 in. (101.6 cm)
SignedThe dress retains its original tag reading "Young Naturals for Barnsville U.S.A." as well as a smaller tag beneath noting "100% wool knit."
ClassificationsCostume, Women's
Credit LineMuseum Collection
Object number2023.503
DescriptionA woman's shift dress of bright yellow wool knit fabric. The garment is cut as an A-line silhouette, draping softly at just above knee length, and the sleeveless armscyes are bound with the same knit fabric on the bias. The dress closes via a back zipper with a hook and thread loop closure at the nape of the neck. The dress is ornamented with oversized irridescent plastic sequins widely spaced, held in place with small goldtone metal brads.Curatorial RemarksBarnsville U.S.A. was registered as a manufacturer of women's and children's fashions in 1961. The company was one of many divisions of Puritan Fashions Corporation, which had been founded in 1909 by Arthur Rosen and the Rosen family. Barnsville U.S.A. targeted the younger fashion-conscious consumer, noting that their garments were "designed especially for women with young figures, young ideas, and lots of places to go." By 1963, the company's Pennsylvania-based factory was staffed by 375 workers. In 1964, the company announce plans for expansion, adding a second factory and hiring additional workers to bring the staff to 600. The two factories produced between 150 and 200 dresses a day. In 1965, Barnsville contracted with Welsh designer Mary Quant (born 1930) to design a collection featuring "Mod" garments for American consumers. The company's advertising that year focused on their "London inspired" collection. The success of this campaign, combined with Puritan Fashions' other divisions, resulted in the company posting more than 58 million dollars in sales in 1965. Barnsville U.S.A. was featured in numerous newspaper advertisements, mostly between 1962 and the early 1970s. Consumers could purchase Barnsville U.S.A. garments in a variety of smaller, mid-size, and larger department stores such as Filene's of Boston. The Barnsville label appears to have stopped in the mid 1970s. The Puritan Fashion Corporation was purchased in 1983 by Calvin Klein.NotesThis bright yellow A-line sleeveless dress is constructed from 100% wool jersey. Maker Barnsville U.S.A. used knit fabrics extensively in their garments, focusing on easy-care non-wrinkling fabrics. Many of their dresses were blends of natural fibers such as wool and cotton combined with dacron, rayon, and vycron, all synthetic chemically-produced fibers.
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