Labeling vintage clothes
February 6, 2023 6:20 AM Subscribe
I have some vintage clothing items made by several generations of family members. I want to label them in some way so my kids will know who made them and maybe some basic info. What's the best way to do this?
In preparation for a move, I've been going through some old clothes, and I realized that I know, for instance, that my grandmother made me this particular dress or that I made a skirt in the 60s for home ec. I'm just looking for a way to attach this information to the clothes (though if you have ideas about vintage clothing storage, do share). If my kids want to eventually toss or donate it all, that's their lookout, but I want them to at least know what these things are.
The best idea I can come up with is clothespins, which seem to have improved a lot since I last used them, though I'm not sure if keeping something clipped indefinitely will damage it. If it matters, nothing is older than 1940s. If you have ideas for specific products you can link to, that would be awesome.
In preparation for a move, I've been going through some old clothes, and I realized that I know, for instance, that my grandmother made me this particular dress or that I made a skirt in the 60s for home ec. I'm just looking for a way to attach this information to the clothes (though if you have ideas about vintage clothing storage, do share). If my kids want to eventually toss or donate it all, that's their lookout, but I want them to at least know what these things are.
The best idea I can come up with is clothespins, which seem to have improved a lot since I last used them, though I'm not sure if keeping something clipped indefinitely will damage it. If it matters, nothing is older than 1940s. If you have ideas for specific products you can link to, that would be awesome.
You could put each thing in a large ziplock bag with a label. You could also take pictures and title the pictures accordingly and also out the picture into a Word file or whatever and add additional info.
posted by jonathanhughes at 6:31 AM on February 6, 2023
posted by jonathanhughes at 6:31 AM on February 6, 2023
Write (either the full info or an identifier to look up in an external table) in permanent marker on a loop of twill tape, and tack it with a few stitches to a thick seam, like shoulder or waist?
posted by nonane at 6:41 AM on February 6, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by nonane at 6:41 AM on February 6, 2023 [9 favorites]
Best answer: I collect vintage clothing and my favorite resource for information is the Vintage Fashion Guild. This article on storage is excellent.
You're correct in thinking that pins might cause damage over time. I would attach the information to the clothes hanger instead of the garment (using a hang tag on cotton string). If you're storing things flat in boxes you can label the outside of the box. If a box has multiple items you can use descriptive terms on your labels: "green cotton corduroy skirt made by Mom 1967/Purple floral satin dress made for Mom by Granny 1972" for example.
The big concern about paper labels is that you ideally want to use acid-free (archival) paper. If you have access to some I would consider making notes for the garments that have pockets in them and tucking the notes into the pockets.
Don't use plastic, fabric needs to breathe. Pillowcases are great if you don't want to use boxes. Make sure everything is clean when you store it. If you want to be extra careful make sure to check things for mildew/moths at least once a year.
It's so awesome that you're doing this. My husband's uncle saved a suitcase full of his mother's (my husband's grandmother's) very fancy clothing and gave it to me. It was an amazing gift and would have been even more awesome if there had been detailed notes about the clothes. Your kids are very lucky!
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:43 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
You're correct in thinking that pins might cause damage over time. I would attach the information to the clothes hanger instead of the garment (using a hang tag on cotton string). If you're storing things flat in boxes you can label the outside of the box. If a box has multiple items you can use descriptive terms on your labels: "green cotton corduroy skirt made by Mom 1967/Purple floral satin dress made for Mom by Granny 1972" for example.
The big concern about paper labels is that you ideally want to use acid-free (archival) paper. If you have access to some I would consider making notes for the garments that have pockets in them and tucking the notes into the pockets.
Don't use plastic, fabric needs to breathe. Pillowcases are great if you don't want to use boxes. Make sure everything is clean when you store it. If you want to be extra careful make sure to check things for mildew/moths at least once a year.
It's so awesome that you're doing this. My husband's uncle saved a suitcase full of his mother's (my husband's grandmother's) very fancy clothing and gave it to me. It was an amazing gift and would have been even more awesome if there had been detailed notes about the clothes. Your kids are very lucky!
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:43 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
Best answer: That sounds like a delightful problem to have! You might want to approach it like people do for insurance and estate inventories. Have a file with descriptions written out and either copies of those, or corresponding numbers, stored with the clothing. (Where it can be seen from outside so so one has to open the package to determine what it is.)
posted by BibiRose at 6:48 AM on February 6, 2023
posted by BibiRose at 6:48 AM on February 6, 2023
Best answer: Smaller items might fit into these Purl Soho storage bags, which have a label window. Wouldn't work for a whole dress or bulky jacket, though. The bag itself is nice enough that it's unlikely to be randomly tossed by mistake, though things can of course always get mixed up.
posted by praemunire at 8:40 AM on February 6, 2023
posted by praemunire at 8:40 AM on February 6, 2023
Custom clothing labels?
(Quite spendy, but here's one supplier, for example.)
posted by fairmettle at 12:37 AM on February 7, 2023
(Quite spendy, but here's one supplier, for example.)
posted by fairmettle at 12:37 AM on February 7, 2023
The vintage style "made by ---" NameMaker labels can be stitched in after adding a little info with waterproof pen.
posted by Scram at 8:07 AM on February 8, 2023
posted by Scram at 8:07 AM on February 8, 2023
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posted by zadcat at 6:25 AM on February 6, 2023