Ahead of their time, alas

[cookie]

PB Cloth

I recently had a short email with a girl whose grandfather was the colour specialist at Goodalls and was selling a piece of fabric from the mill she had around on eBay. She was chuffed to talk about it having grown up with its memory.

The story of Goodall's is the story of American manufacturing in the synthetic era till everyone woke up (the body odour may have helped) and it was all too late.

Interesting the use of mohair. The rise again of the 'tonic' suits in the UK where they used synthetic amd mohair to get the sheen like US sharkskin is an interesting example of the properties of mohair.

You can buy tonic style fabrics now on eBay textile posters.

I wonder if PB cloth is next?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Where is Thomas Oatman now?

Beats me. He's gone into that MIA limbo populated by Avery Lucas, Garrick Anderson, and other would-be revivers of golden era menswear.

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[Marc Chevalier]

The rise again of the 'tonic' suits in the UK where they used synthetic amd mohair to get the sheen like US sharkskin is an interesting example of the properties of mohair.

I'm glad you mentioned that. Old Palm Beach cloth has an extremely slight sheen to it: not overall, but from the random mohair fibers. Almost unnoticeable, but still a fact.

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[Marc Chevalier]

You can buy tonic style fabrics now on eBay textile posters.

I wonder if PB cloth is next?

Nah. It ain't shiny enough to revive.

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[resortes805]

Speaking of now defunct vintage reproduction companies...does anyone know the story behind the "Old Gold" label?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Never heard of 'em. Wasn't there once a brand of cigarettes named 'Old Gold'?


Come to think of it, Ralph Lauren Polo is the only American 'golden era inspired' men's clothing line to have survived more than a few years. Are these ventures just doomed to fail?

.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Hopefully not forever. Current trends must change some time,...Shouldn't they? Or are we forever doomed to see giant pants and knee length T-shirts everywhere we turn? :eusa_doh:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

As with every other commodity, good taste is now treated as a 'momentary' fad, promoted and catered to until the masses become 'saturated' (bored?) with it. Seeking something 'new,' folks turn to (or are fed) bad taste, which is just as saleable as good taste. Maybe more so, in fact.


Once bad taste becomes old hat, good taste will return to store shelves ... for a while. Then the cycle will repeat itself.

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[Baron Kurtz]

Palm Beach cloth's most popular suit/sportcoat/trouser color was off white, but it was also made in darker blue, light blue, moss green, darker green, yellow, light grey, rust, brown, burgundy and more. There were even striped versions.

and checks, and nubby "tweed" weaves, as i'm discovering from apparel arts . . .

'Twas also used for military uniforms. See palm beach thread in "golden era".

bk

 

[Fletch]

[PB cloth] ain't shiny enough to revive.

It doesn't have to be shiny...just, uh, sheeny. (As in the sense of "having a sheen.") And slightly ticklish.

But we are up against the age old problem: You can do something splashy and ultra-different for not too much cost if you are imagative. But a subtle effect will make something horribly costly to make.

Too bad PB cloth was never worn in some famous battle. The reenactor crowd would be howling for it.

 

[Jovan]

I wish Palm Beach cloth was still around from what I'm reading. Be perfect, since I live in the state that contains the beach it's named after.

 

[MudInYerEye]

DL Cerney In NY and Toyo Enterprises in Tokyo are both going strong with vintage repro lines 20 years +.

 

[resortes805]

the story behind the "Old Gold" label?

Here are a couple of Old Gold garments...I've also seen repro bowling shirts with old gold labels.

This black hollywood jacket has an action back:

 

[Jovan]

Very nice. Sort of reminds me of that strange lapel-less and collar-less jacket Cary Grant wore at the end of The Philadelphia Story.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Palm Beach cloth's most popular suit/sportcoat/trouser color was off white, but it was also made in darker blue, light blue, moss green, darker green, yellow, light grey, rust, brown, burgundy and more. There were even striped versions.

SURPRISE!

Swatches of Palm Beach Cloth for suits, circa 1935. Note the variety: