Evening star., 1925-02-02
ATPR|CESSOON
TO Be ADVANCED
Materials Costing More,
Makers ExpIain-Rise in
Clothing Is Predicted.
BG j. G. ROYLE.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. February 2.-lt is
going to be difficult for either men
or women to hang on TO their hats
IN the next few weeks-if they are
old hats. Manufacturers of head
gear are now completing preparations
for the hat purchases. which will
mark the end Of Winter more ac-
Curately than the appearance of the
Ground hog. Hats for both men and
women for Spring and Summer will
he lighter, but the drain on the
pocketbook probably will be heavier.
Furriers are blamed for the pro-
spective increase in costs Of the hat
manufacturers. They say the present
vogue for fur garments and fur trim
ming has raised the price Of hatters'
fur to such an extent that both men
and women can expect to pay more
Tor felt headpieces. Just as the
hot dog has run the coneys from
Coney Island. once a rabbit paradise,
so the demand for cheap furs has
Eobbled up the supply Of these pelts
in other sections. -->-.
Rapid Rise in Prices.
IF mother and the girls insist on
wearing imita tion furs, father must
expect TO pay more forhi hats said
Fletcher II. Mont gomery. president of
he Knox Hat Co. Most Of the cheap
furs are made from pelts of the rab-
hit or concy. Up to a few years ago
these furs were used almost entirely
by hat manufacturer Today there
are more garment manufacturers than
hat makers at the fur sales. The
Increased demand naturally has
driven prices up. In 1918 fine hat.
ters' fur cost s1.25 a pound. Now the
price is about $3.50, and the price of
hats must necessarily reflect these in
creased costs"
Florida and California have already
given fairly good line on the styles
of straw hats men will be wearing
this coming Summer. The trend in
the South Is toward sennett braids,
with the crowns a triffe lower and
he brin1s a trifie wider than IN 1924.
Manufacturing efficiency has cut
down the wei ght of these, coverings.
sos tthat.5st6e shat which once. was
heavy with glue now can be worn
without discomfort, even in the stiff
shapes.
Expensive simplicity" will be the
goal aimed at by the more fashion
able milliners in providing for
~omen's Spring needs.
a. Clothing May Go Higher.
on February 4 II will be possible
what their Fall and Winter suits and
evercoats will cost. That date the
American Wooden Co. will open
fits Fall line. The prices named usual
ly are followed pretty closely by the
other wooden and worsted manu-
facturers. Prices OF fair grade of
clothing, such as is purchased by
those in moderate circunrs tances,
have fallen about eight-tenths OF
to the National Industrial Conference
Board. But the prices of raw wool
have advanced heavily above those of
the early part of 1924.
Many men in the clothing industry
anticipate small advances in goods
prices as q result OF this condition,
although it is believed that the
American Woolen Co. has con-
tracted for good portion of it's wool
requirements at prices which al
ready show a heavy profit Il prevail
ing quotations. Julius Forstmann,
president of the Forstmann G. Huff
man Co, woolen manufacturers, be-
lieves wool prices will remain high
for two or three years to come.
Wool Demand Increasing.
Consumption of wool in the last
Ave years has been constantly in
creasing," he said today. Countries
which previously used little wool,
notably Japan, are becoming i'm
portant factors in world markets.
The difference between production
years was supplied, until last. Year, by
the immense stocks OF the British
Australian Wool Realizati ton Associ-
alton, which in the beginning
amounted to 2,606.000 bales. This
surplus has now been exhausted. The
sheep growers are increasing their
hocks, but increases take time and
we are bound to be faced with a
shortage of wool for several years
to come"