Van Raalte of Canada

Since I live in Canada, I occasionally come across a Van Raalte piece that says Made in Canada on the label. Up until now every piece has been a relatively recent, 70s or 80s nightgown or peignoir set, but yesterday I found a 60s slip with a different Made in Canada tag.


I've actually been questioned by a customer as to whether this is the same Van Raalte company, so I did a trademark search on the Canada CIPO website:

VAN RAALTE COMPANY, INC.417 Fifth AvenueNew York, New York UNITED STATES OF AMERICA filed for the trademark "Van Raalte" in Canada on 1945-01-29 (claimed first use of trademark in Canada 1935). As of 1995 the trademark is registered to owner Warnaco U.S., Inc.and is still active (as far as I know it is no longer in use).

Van Raalte Buildings

Niagara Silk Mill postcard 1928. From 1898-1918 the building at 84 Sweeney Street was known as Niagara Silk Mills; from 1918 to March 8, 1963 operated by the Van Raalte Co. Old North Tonawanda. From Agenbyte on Flicker

Van Raalte Offices 1960s Main Street between 4th and Lincoln Ave - photo from Tim Donnelly Places I remember - Dunkirk

Van Raalte Mill - Saratoga Springs. Saratoga.com

Van Raalte Night Cap???

Who knew Van Raalte made night caps?? I sure didn't. This blue and white gingham cap is new with tags dating it to 1965. Courtesy of Grainger Station on Ebay.

A Note

This blog was really intended to be a reference guide rather than a true daily weblog; what this means is that posts are sporadic as I add new information when it comes up in my research. If you are interested in Van Raalte Lingerie I recommend that you follow this blog and you will be notified of any updates. I just added the "Follow This Blog" gizmo at the top right. Please contact me if you have any new information about this company's history or have any unique items that you would like to share. If you or a member of your family worked for Van Raalte I would really love to hear your stories! Finally, if you notice any errors in this info guide please let me know.

XOXO Empress Jade Vintage.

Van Raalte Gloves

Van Raalte made so many styles of gloves over the years and did not trademark glove names, so it's often difficult to date them accurately. I've used the newspaper archives and vintage advertisements as a rough guide to dating.

Silk Gloves and Leather Lined Silk Gloves: (1913 to approx 1930):

First of all a correction: My timeline info gives 1918 as the date Niagara Silk Mills was purchased by Van Raalte Silk Mills , however I recently found the following advertisement on Ebay dated a year prior. I can't find any trademark or patent info on "Niagara Maid" or "Niagara Silk Mills", so we need to assume VR bought them sometime in the late teens. I've never come across any silk garment with the Niagara Maid label, so please contact me if you have one.

Van Raalte "Niagara Maid" Silk Underwear Ad from Oct 6th 1917 Dry Goods Economist Magazine, courtesy of Millcliff

By 1920 VR seems to have abandoned the "Niagara Maid" name in it's advertisements. But I did find one newspaper ad for Dec 16th, 1925 advertising 600 pairs of Niagara Maid silk hose on Sale for $1.65!

1920 Double Tipped Silk Gloves ad also from Millcliff

The very last advertisement I can find for Van Raalte Silk Gloves is dated Oct 20, 1930 from The Argus, an Australian newspaper. They mention only having a table full of oddments, so we can assume this was a clear out of old stock.

Rayon Gloves (1939 to early 1950s):
I found an article in the New York Times dated Dec 2, 1939 which appear to have been their introduction...

"Gloves knit of nylon and rayon have gone on the 'market at $8 a dozen to retail at $1.25 a pair. They are manufactured by the Van Raalte Company..."

"Hands Away Sleight of hand glove fashion which frees fingertips at will but keeps arms glamorously deep in rich rayon jersey", 1945 (art work by Leisin Lenin), ad courtesy of Adventures Into The Past

The last reference I can find of VR rayon gloves is in 1950; an ad for amer-suede, sueded finish rayon gloves.

Nylon Gloves: (1939 to 1960s???)
Manufacturers only really started using nylon on a mass scale after WWII. Women loved it for it's terrific fit and ease of care. Some of the glove styles were incredibly glamorous!

1948 ad (artwork by Henry Luhrs), main image features evening gloves of black ruched nylon net embellished with sequins. Courtesy of Adventures Into The Past


By the mid 50s Van Raalte was advertising Nylon gloves in an astonishing array of colors and styles.

1956 Nylon Gloves ad - courtesy of Adventures Into The Past

In checking the Newspapers archive the last advertisement I found for nylon gloves was in 1958, however I suspect Van Raalte still made gloves well into the 60s, perhaps into the 70s. I will continue to research this and will update this blog if any new info turns up.

XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

More Van Raalte Ads

Double Tipped Silk Gloves 1920, Courtesy of The Woods Elf Store

Van Raalte Silk Stockings 1927


Van Raalte Singlettes and Silk Stocking 1929


"Stryps" Van Raalte Rayon Jersey Gowns - 1940s, exact date unknown


Lastex Undies April 1940, Courtesy of Hprints


Jamettes 1942


Rayon Stockings Ad 1942, Courtesy of Ads of the Past


Flextoe Stockings 1948


Color Witchery 1948


Shades of Spring Nylon Tricot Slip, Gown and Panties 1949, courtesy of Birthday Life Magazines Las Vegas


Dreams are made of Nylon Jersey lavished with nylon lace 1949, Courtesy of French Ads Paradise


Nylon tricot nightgown slip & panties 1949, Courtesy of Mirluck


Flextoe Stockings 1949


Paris Inspired Tulip Slip 1953


Summer Frost 1953, Courtesy of Nyras Vintage Ads


"Femme fatale. What does she wear? An ecru lace cascade running down and around a coat and gown of elegant Turqua satin..." 1965. Courtesy of Jack*tripper

PHILMY

The only Van Raalte Trademark we could find for "Philmy" related specifically to hosiery, but we have seen several lingerie garments with this label dating from the 40s and 50s.

This remarkable Philmy full slip is currently listed on Ebay. Due to the crystal pleats we are dating this as 1950s. The tag is quite faded, but still legible.

Here is a delightful 50s Philmy half slip with deep pleated lace & chiffon hem from Heavenly Vintage Lingerie