Evening star., 1943-04-02
New WPb Standards
Increase Strength
OF Women's S Hose
Sheerness Is Retained,
But More Durability
Is Sought in Order

"SSS - sNSsSuSoS
But More Durability
Is Sought in Order
In an effort to improve the wear
Ing quality of rayon stockings with
out affecting their glamorous ap-
pearance, the War Production Board
today decreed new standards fol
women's hosiery. All guages now
produced will continue under the
new order, but the manufacture OF
so denier, full fashioned, sheer hose
of ordinary quality will be prohib-
tied. Stockings equally sheer may
be made, but they will be Of stronger,
high-tenacity yarns.
Conferences have been held mean
while with OPA's Industry Council
and representatives of the hosiery
industry in an effort to secure relief
from the earlier OPA order which
calls for the classification Of stock
ings as grade A and grade B, labeled
and priced accordingly. Washing
ton merchants, rejecting the views
of those throughout the country,
said this order would In many cases
force manufacturers to change their
entire construction set-up and re-
suit in cheaper, heavier stockings.
These, they said, would be better
wearing but so unattractive that the
American woman would spurn them
In favor of substitute leg makeup
or black market nylons of the old
type.
Under the new WPB order effec-
tive May Is, it Is expected that
100000 pounds Of wool, rayon
and cotton yarns will be saved an
nually. In the creation of women's
hosiery slightly more rayon than
previously will be required, but this
will also be long-term saving since
the new stockings will stress dura-
bility and variability rather than
sheerness.
Store Officials Optimistic.
In some instances, Washington
store executives expressed an opti-
mistic view, believing that wherever
possible hosiery manufacturers will
produce the best possible stock
ings. This INSTITUTIONAL manu-
facture which may result in little
or no profit under the ceiling prices
will be done with an eye to main
tanning the firms regulations for
postwar business.
II high tenacity yarns can be made
Into sheer stockings, the American
woman will continue to have her
f1attering types for afternoon wear.
She will be assured, however, of
longer lasting stockings under the
new order which calls for greater
reinforcement of heel, toe and top;
two or three ply yarns specified for
seams and lace bands and fancy de-
signs in the top ruled out.
The lengths of full-fashioned hose
are virtually unchanged, but milady
will not have the protection of two
to four-and-one-half inches in the
top as she has had in the past. The
new WPB stockings will have tops
limited to three and one-half inches
Rigid standards also are set for the
construction of seamless, circular
knit rayon and cotton stockings
Unaffected, however, are the follow
ing: Runproof rayon mesh hosiery,
lace and mesh hosiery and combina-
tions of cotton, wool. continuous
flament and spun rayon yarn stock
ings. Top selling colors will be re-
tained by the manufacturers. but
color range is limited to seven
shades.
Mems Hose Patterns Limited.
Rulings on mems hosiery limit
the patterns of fancy half hose to
those which were in actual produc-
ton In January and February
Color restrictions are the same as
for women's hosiery. except that
white, and war service colors" may
be used. These include olive drab,
khaki and special color for OFF,
GERS There has been no limitation
placed on the use of various colored
yarns for such decorative features
as clocks
Under the OPA ruling No. 339,
dollars and cents ceiling prices on
rayon go into effect April Is, but
merchants will be allowed a three
month period to put the order into
effect. This will enable them to
sell at Grade A prices those stock
ings now In the store, even though
they fail to meet the Grae A speci-
fications which will be required OF
rayon hosiery In the future. After
the allotted period. rayon stockings
will be marked Grade A and Grade
B, will meet OPA specifications and
be priced accordingly.
Even children were affected by the
latest WPB decree, which states that
fancy or novelty patterns for chill
dren's hosiery are restricted to those
actually In production between last
October and the present time. Col
ors are also limited to seven. COM
pared to the 30 In the past, but
colored yarns may be used for deco
rative stripes, designs and figures.
Even infants long ribbed hosiery is
regimented. It may be made only
In white.