Union Made Vintage Women’s Hats, history and style over time.
Products with the “Union Made” label were proudly worn and the Union Made sentiment was proudly stated in the early 1900s. Items with the Union Made label were worn with pride because of the effort women in the “garment districts” put forth to ally against poor working conditions.
Back in the 1820s, the first textile mills in the United States opened their doors in Lowell, Massachusetts. In rural America, cash was hard to come by and these jobs were considered very good ones and any girl who got a job in a factory was considered lucky and fortunate. Factory owners desired to hire “young ladies of good character” to operate the looms. Girls from farms all across rural America applied for the jobs. Women have always played a very important role in the textile and clothing industries.

Health risks
Things, however, were not as rosy as they appeared. Factory owners worked these poor girls and women unmercifully from 5:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. or later each day. Lint debris from cotton threads filled the air the women had to breathe all day and it accumulated in their lungs. The machines they worked with soaked the women’s long skirts with grease. During the winter, when oil lamps were in use to provide light (and they didn’t provide much), the women were a walking fire hazard. These dangerous working conditions posed many health risks.

Call to unionize
By 1909, women workers had enough. At the end of that year, a rally was called to unionize. Unions brought power to women as a group to get better working conditions, better hours, and better wages. The result was “The Uprising of the Twenty Thousand,” as it would later be known, when women took to the streets to add their collective voices together and strike against the terrible working conditions they were forced to endure.

In the early 1900s, unions brought people together under a banner of their particular specialty. These were very often people who were poor and did not have a voice on their own. However, when groups banded together and unionized, employers and business owners were forced to listen and, more often than not, meet the demands for a better environment for the workers. The purpose of unions was to make things better for the workers.
Hats from the 1920s through the 1960s
Many vintage women’s hats from the 1920s through the 1960s were Union Made and they wore the “Union Made” label with pride. To support the causes of their fellow women, ladies made a determined effort to buy only “Union Made” articles.
The Union Made vintage hats were each something to behold. In the 1920s, versions included hats made of velour and trimmed with mink fur and rhinestones. Fashionable hats of the period included the use of feathers. Oh, the delights these creations were and every changing season brought a new design. They were absolutely stunning. In the early 1900s, many women wouldn’t think of leaving their homes without a hat. Hat and gloves were as necessary as your purse and shoes.
There is a Union Made vintage hat from the 1940s/1950s era that is completely covered with artificial flowers. They were made tastefully and each hat was a vision on its own to behold. Hats were made with special occasions in mind such as weddings. The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom each needed a fashionable hat to wear to the wedding. The vintage hats from this early American era did not disappoint. On the contrary, they livened every occasion.

Many of the hats included a net covering over the entire hat and some included a face veil, just to lightly cover the front of the face. In the 1950s, there was also a tweed newsboy Harvard hat with a buckle that looked very journalistic. This hat was styled especially for women as they were beginning to earn more rights and a respected place in the work force.
There were hats made of linen, wool, and black felt. Attributes the hats entertained included silk ribbon and sequins. Some hats were covered completely with sequins, with a netted veil covering the hat’s entirety.
In the 1960s, one of many hat varieties included a bucket style hat made in velour and chenille. Another fashionable design of a hat was made of nylon, with a rim roll hat brim and a fabric strip encircling the top portion of the hat. Some were made of vibrant sheer material with bold and daring colors like reds, pinks, oranges, and greens. Some used huge over-the-top flowers. Your hat definitely made your outfit.
Union Made vintage hats carry some of the most stylish and provocative designs. They were glamorous, unique, and eye-catching. Walking or riding, a vintage union hat definitely made you stand out from the crowd. When you wore a Union Made hat, not only did you delight your audience but you made a philosophical statement as well.

ILGWU
International Ladies Garment Worker Union, formed in 1900. In 1935 the union became part of CIO. Tags are notable for their “AFL-CIO” attribution or lack thereof. The AFL and the CIO merged in 1955, therefore any ILGWU labels with AFL-CIO (look closely, as it is often very small) on them are post-55.
In 1974 the labels were changed to a red, white and blue color scheme. This was in conjunction with their efforts to urge Americans to not buy imported goods: Buy American: The Job You Save May Be Your Own. The ILGWU remained active up until 1995, when they merged with another union, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, to form UNITE.

1900 - 1936 ILGWU AFL
1936 - 1940 ILGWU CIO
1940 - 1955 ILGWU AFL
1955 - 1995 ILGWU AFL-CIO

Alana Morgaine

Our Vintage Hats

Tips and Tricks for Doilies
Doilies are some of the most cherished collectibles and memorabilia from decades long past. The elaborately crocheted doilies can provide a look into the past, and doilies passed to you from a long ago ancestor can tell stories of what that person was like, what intricate patterns spoke to them. With proper use and care, these treasures can continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
You can incorporate many intricate patterns into doilies, ranging from angels and butterflies, to lighthouses and motifs for special occasions, such as for Christmas and Halloween. Flower images are very popular ranging from rose patterns, to jasmine, and lily of the valley petals and shapes. You can incorporate pine cones and sea shells, and practically anything your imagination can dream and an expert mind and nimble fingers can weave into a doily.

What can you do with these magical creations? You can display them for decorative purposes or use for them functional reasons. In the early decades of the 20th Century, doilies were very popular as coverings for fine furniture. Uses included covering the arms of chairs and couches, as well as the tops of tables and dressers. Doilies covering the tops of fine furniture protect the surface of the furniture, while serving to enhance whatever collectible you may wish to set on the doily. For example, a fine piece of porcelain, a figurine, or a special glass bowl set atop a doily can make a lovely addition to your room. The doily adds an element of grace and elegance to the ornamentation.
While some doilies are designed to serve a functional purpose, others are so picturesque and unique that you really don’t have a choice except to frame them and hang them on a wall to serve as decoration. Such trimmings can add a touch of elegance and romance to your home. Another idea would be to add a favorite photo on top of a doily and frame them both.

For a different look in floral displays, you can wrap a vase with a doily that will complement the size of the vase and tie the doily and vase together with an accentuating ribbon. This would be a unique way to display your fresh-cut flowers or even those of the artificial variety.
You can also use doilies to enhance gift-giving. For something different, instead of using wrapping paper, let the recipient of your gift “open” the gift by merely unwrapping the encasing doily. You will have two gifts in one: the gift and the doily it is wrapped with. It’s great for the environment, too, because you will not be adding more paper refuse to the local landfill. You could also use a basket, line it with a doily, wrap the gift in another doily, and voila! It’s a gift assortment of the best kind.
Doilies can be used in craft items, to shape and stiffen into Christmas ornaments or other small decorative treasures. You can use special fabric stiffener to permanently shape a doily into a hat or bowl. You can starch lightly for a temporary hardening effect that you can wash out. If you decide to use permanent fabric stiffener, which you can typically purchase anywhere craft materials are sold, you should be aware that this kind of stiffener will not wash out. It may also not come off any surfaces you happen to get it on, so be sure to cover all work surfaces carefully.

Doilies come in a variety of shapes and colors. Doilies can be round, oblong, square, or rectangular. Doilies can be coordinated so that different types of the same pattern can be used to accentuate each room of your home or, if you prefer an eclectic mix, you can mix and match to create the ambiance you desire.
If used in a functional purpose, you can care for your doilies by gently washing them with soap and water. If you get a particularly stubborn stain on the doily, try using a toothbrush and gently brushing the affected area. Do not rub or scrub as the doily is much too delicate for that.
Doilies come in handy for a variety of uses. They can be used as protection, decoration, or as a novelty. They are exquisite items produced with much loving care and it shows in their stylish designs and patterns that are so pleasing to the eye.

Alana Morgaine
Our Vintage Doilies

Glassware crafted between the years of 1945 and 1952 are known as Occupied Japan pieces because those were the years after WWII that Japan was occupied. Occupied Japan glassware can have a special significance to Americans as those years are connected to the dramatic events that started WWII. December 7, 1941 was the date Japanese planes bombed an unsuspecting Pearl Harbor and everyone who was alive then knew exactly where they were when they heard the news.
Japan was occupied after WWII
The Japanese surrendered after two atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One of the terms in the surrender agreement authorized the Allied Forces (mainly Americans) to occupy Japan. The goal was to help rebuild Japan after the devastation from the bombs, but not to let it get to such a level as it could re-arm its military to inflict damage again on the United States.
Fifty percent of Occupied Japan glassware and other items had to be marked as such when they entered the United States market. They are rare finds today and are highly valued in the collectibles market. The markings might say either “Made in Occupied Japan” or “Occupied Japan.” You might also see “OJ” or “Japan” used as markings, especially if the glassware is part of a set. Allowing the sale of Japanese handcrafted articles was, in part, a contribution from the United States in helping the Japanese economy recover.
Emotions were running high in America
This era of time was a highly sensitive one in America and emotions were running very high against Japan and its people. The bombing of Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor was devastating. Certainly, most American citizens were not interested in “helping” Japan, the country that became our enemy for a time and was responsible for the lost lives of many loved ones. These feelings of hostility toward Japan’s actions of WWII lasted several years, and still last today in the minds of those who are still alive and remember that time.


Occupation was identification
The only way many Americans would purchase these products from Japan was to have them identified in a way so as to ensure the world knew, they were “occupied.” This reflected this first time in history that the country of Japan was occupied by a foreign entity. Also, many Americans didn’t want to give their money in a purchase to the people of Japan, who, in their mind’s eye, caused such trauma to the United States.

The significance of these Occupied Japan collectibles, to some, almost makes the statement with the purchase that acknowledges the Allies won the war and Japan had to admit defeat in the end. From 1950 to 1952, 90 percent of the products exported from Japan were kitchen and glassware.

Alana Morgaine
Alana’s Cherished Treasures
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