NO FRILLS OR TRIMMINGS

Southland Times, Issue 24888, 30 October 1942, Page 4

NO FRILLS OR TRIMMINGS

War-Time Clothing

Restrictions

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 29. War-time clothing in the Dominion is to be more austere. All frills and trimmings are to go under restrictions introduced under the Factory Emergency Regulations in tonight’s Gazette. Control notices bring into force specifications dealing with the manufacture of men’s, youths’, boys’, women’s and girls’ outer clothing and men’s, youths’ and boys’ shirts and pyjamas. The specifications, which have been prepared by the New Zealand Standard. Institute, come into force tomorrow.

The object of the restrictions is to eliminate waste by concentrating production on the optimum number of the existing types, classes and grades of commodities and upon the processes and practices which are most economic. No manufacturer may make an article of clothing prohibited by the specifications. The restrictions do not apply to garments ordered before tomorrow if delivered by January 31. Men’s, youths’ and boys’ coats can no longer be manufactured with belts, half-belts, unused buttons, doublebreasted fronts, more than four pockets, pleats or yokes, hems exceeding one and a-half inches in width or pockets with flaps or tabs. There are certain other restrictions.

SPORTS COATS Similar provisions apply to sports coats, which must not have more than three pockets, and also to blazers, for which linings and ornamental braid are prohibited. Material must not be used which is capable of being utilized for the manufacture of men’s and women’s outer garments, but this restriction does not apply to boys attending school. Waistcoats are not to be manufactured with back straps, double-breasted fronts and certain other features. Cuffs, pleats and extended bands of a bottom width exceeding 20 inches are not allowed for trousers, including sports trousers. Women’s and girls’ clothing must not be manufactured with balloon or leg-of-mutton sleeves, separate or attached hoods or capes, yokes of double material (except school tunics) and hems exceeding two inches in width, excepting garments worn by school girls up to and including 16 years. Skirts are not to have a floor clearance of less than 15 inches for sizes up to 42-inch hip measurement and of less than 10 inches exceeding that hip measurement. Slacks are no longer to be made with a bottom width exceeding 22 inches. They must not have cuffs, pleats or tunnel loops or hems exceeding one and a-half inches in width. MANUFACTURE BANNED Garments the manufacture of which will not be permitted include bridge coats, cloaks, wraps or coatees of cotton, silk or art silk material, costumes or suits of more than two garments, fulllength frocks and beach wear (except bathing suits, shirts or shorts). There are to be no two-piece frocks, including ensembles with long coats, jackets or boleros, but this does not include costumes or suits consisting of a short coat and skirt provided the coat does not extend more than 101 inches below the waistline. Bridal gowns are not subject to these restrictions, nor are garments for children under 11 years or clothing for persons of physical abnormality. Maternity dresses, regulation clothing for any of the forces, robes or vestments for orders and waterproof garments, shirts and pyjamas come within the restricted categories. No men’s, youths’ or boys’ shirts are to be made with canoe collars, slide fasteners or laced fronts or sleeves with other than single cuffs. They are not to have pockets, neck reinforcement or more than two buttons on the front in addition to the collar button, except for shirts opening from the neck to the hem, when the buttons on the front must not exceed four.