Evening star., 1924-10-28
SILK SALES SHOW
STEADY INCREASES
Gingham Manufacturers Suf-
fer as Oriental Designs Gain
in Popularity.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.


NEW YORK, October 2s.-When
the tomb of King Tut-ankh-Amen
was discovered thousands of people
in the United States expected dis
aster to follow it's opening. What
ever the cotton textile manufacturers
expected then, they are sure disaster
has happened now. There is no ques-
ton that the popularity of ginghams
has waned as a result of the Egyp-
tian designs in silks and other
printed cloths, which seized on the
imagination and fancy of the Amer
lean woman. New England gingham
manufacturers date their meager
profits from that period.
Silks More Popular.
Silks however, both natural and
artificial, have gained steadily in
popularity and manufacturers expect
1925 to be a banner year. One of the
largest and oldest silk factories in
America. however, places initial
credit for the popularity of the
printed silks on a far humber fac
tor than King Tut. F. w. Budd of
Cheney Brothers declares this credit
rests with Syrian peddlers, who car
ried their wares in packs on their
backs from one Summer resort hotel
to another years ago in this country.
this country about 40 years ago for
sash curtains and upholstery uses.
The Syrian peddlers saw these silks,
thought them adaptable for kimonos
and asked for Oriental designs. AS a
result the Syrians delighted Summer
vacationists with Oriental silks which
nevertheless were made in America
and they became the rage. This pop
ularity was increased by the mystery
hfnh cd
peddlers did not know where or by
whom they were made. They only
knew they could secure supplies from
certain Syrian jobbers located in New
York
Great Changes in 40 Years.
Designs of the printed silks natu-
rally were culled from the motifs, Sy
rian. Armenian, Bulgarian, Chinese and
Japanese, but many were the prod
ucts Of American artists. Perhaps
the greatest inspiration to American
manufacturers, according to Mr.. Budd,
came from the ash bin.
A. A. Vintine G. Co. of New York
were large importers of Oriental
goods. Their Japanese shippers filled
up the cases around their ivories and
porcelains with discarded stencil de-
signs which had been utilized in
printing silks. These, considered of
no value, were secured by an Ameri-
can manufacturer who used them to
make silks for interior decorations,
dresses, kimonos, pillows, bed quilts
and scarfs.
The inspiration received 40 years
ago from these japanese stencils ala
more than anything else to develop
decorative silks in this country" Mr..
Budd concluded.
Red Coming Color.
The Spring of 1925 will be a red"
Spring, according to several large
manufacturers. They are convinced
that the copper red tints will be ex-
tremely popular and are utilizing the
plaid designs to carry those tints in
some instances. The trend is already
apparent in women's wear, with rus
set standing high among the favor
ties for Autumn at 60. Fabrics are
being worked out in dark reds for
morning, lighter reds for afternoon
and pinkish reds for evening wear.
This trend is also noticeable in the
new silk hosiery lines.
Whether the men of a family wear
white collars or flannel shirts, it is
practically certain at present that
their women folk wear silk stock
ings. Some of teh new hosiery
Artificial Silk Favored.
Some of the new hosiery tints are
known as chartreuse. amber, copper,
beetroot, cordova and bronze. Many
of the more attractive lines are being
developed in artificial as well as nat
ural silk. The production of rayon.
as the artificial product is called in
tarde circles, is gaining at an enor-
nous pace.
There is every prospect that sales
of rayon made in America this year
will reach a total of more than 40,-
900, 900 pounds, a gain of about s.
coo. 900 pounds above 1928, 100000
over 1922 and 100000 more than
1920.
The larger portion Of this product
still is absorbed in the making of
hosiery, but increasing quantities are
being used for broad silks and in
fabrics combining rayon with wool,
cotton or natural silk.